PRIME Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro is the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) deputy leader, after the position was vacated by Professor Nqosa Mahao who left to form his own party, the Basotho Action Party (BAP) last week.
news
April 27, 2021
METRO REPORTERS
3 min read
Majoro is ABC new deputy leader
Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro
This was announced by the ABC Secretary General Lebohang Hlaele on Monday, during a press briefing held in Maseru.
Before he jumped ship, the former Vice Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) was also recently dismissed as the Minister of Law by Majoro.
Mahao was kicked out along with former Minister of Forestry and Land Reclamation, Motlatsi Maqelepo.
In May 2020, Majoro became premier after former Prime Minister Motsoahae Thamae who was earlier questioned by police in connection with the murder of his estranged wife, Lipolelo was forced to resign by infighting within his ruling party.
Lipolelo, 58, was ambushed by gunmen in her car as she made her way home in Ha ’Masana on the outskirts of Maseru on June 14, 2017.
She was with a family friend, Thato Sibolla who suffered serious gunshot injuries during the attack.
Two days after Lipolelo’s killing, Thabane was sworn in as Lesotho Prime Minister.
Although Thabane has denied any involvement in Lipolelo’s murder, police maintained that he and his current wife ’Maesaiah wanted to get rid of Lipolelo so that ’Maesaiah could assume the position of First Lady.
’Maesaiah was later formally charged for the murder in February 2020 and was also charged for the attempted murder of Sibolla.
A warrant of arrest for ’Maesaiah was issued on January 10 after she disappeared.
It later emerged that she had been holed up somewhere in the neighbouring South Africa.
She was finally caught by police after nearly a month on the run.
Popular famo musician, the late Rethabile Mokete who died from suspected COVID-19 in January was also sought by police over the murder.
Mokete, better known as ‘Mosotho Chakela’ was believed to have been involved in Lipolelo’s killing alongside fellow famo musicians including Seabata Sello, Macheli Koeshe, Molefi Matima and Sarele Sello. Sarele Sello has since turned into a state witness.
Former Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane
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Former Minister of Law Prof Nqosa Mahao
Upon his resignation, Thabane who is still the leader of ABC, had cited reasons of old age.
Part of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) was then fighting tooth and nail to see Majoro in the PM’s seat, in a bid to block Mahao who had won the NEC elections as the party deputy leader during the 2019 elective conference.
The conference became centre of the party's power struggle, with two NECs eventually reaching common ground to accept the Mahao-led committee to officially assume office.
However, this was just the beginning of a continuous and bitter scuffle that subsequently pushed Mahao and the Member of Parliament for Mokhotlong, Tefo Mapesela out of the party.
Mahao has now announced his new BAP while Mapesela has also claimed to have formed his own part after his fall-out with Mahao.
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