calling
for the immediate resignation of scandal-plagued Prime Minister
Thomas Thabane.
The
80-year-old leader has been under pressure to leave office after being
linked to the murder of his estranged wife,
58-year-old Lipolelo Thabane, three years ago.
The
prime minister's current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, is charged with
shooting to death Lipolelo, two days before Thabane’s inauguration in
2017.
Both
the government of Lesotho and South African mediators released a joint
statement Monday, saying Thabane's departure should be graceful and that
he gets what is described as a secure retirement.
Its unclear if that means Thabane would no longer face legal consequences for his alleged ties to his estranged wife's murder.
Thabane has
also been criticized for calling up troops over the weekend to restore
order in Lesotho, following his claim some leaders in law enforcement
were seeking to undermine democracy in the small country surrounded by
South Africa.
Observers
believe the troop deployment to the capital, Maserua, was a last
ditch effort by Thabane to remain in power. A day before he called up
the troops, his authority took another hit when the constitutional court
ruled against his decision to suspend parliament.
Although Thabane has previously
promised to leave office at the end of July, South African mediator
Jeff Radebe told reporters his departure should be imminent.