Lesotho’s prime minister, Thomas Thabane, shows no sign of resigning after the attorney general advised him that he could not be forced to resigned despite a scandal over his former wife’s murder.
The country had been crippled by political instability since the beginning of the year after police accused Thomas Thabane of having killed his estranged wife in June 2017.
Thabane has denied any involvement but has faced a lot of pressure to quit.
His resignation is expected by May 22 when a new government is due to be installed after his coalition disbanded on Monday.
The prime minister, whose elected term is due to end in 2022, set a target for himself to leave office by July 31 over his advanced age.
He spoke to AFP saying he intended to hand in his resignation on May 13 although he was still consulting.
On the day he had planned to resign, Thabane received legal advice from the attorney general saying he could not be compelled to leave.
Haae Phoofolo said in the five-page letter that, “The prime minister cannot for any reason be compelled to resign,” according to documents leaked to the press on Saturday.
“Thabane can only be removed from office by a vote of no confidence in parliament,” the attorney general said.
“In the circumstances it would be unlawful if the prime minister is forced out of office through a process that is not sanctioned by the constitution.”
“It would be unlawful to force him out of office without following the requirements of the law as that would amount to a coup,” the attorney general explained.
Rivals within his own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party and outside have been pushing for his early departure.
According to Thabane’s deputy in his party, Professor Nqosa Mahao, “The crisis has been created by the attorney general’s advice because he is essentially advising the prime minister not to resign.”
