In Lesotho ...Prime Minister Accused of Killing Wife

Deputy Commissioner of police in Lesotho said the country's prime minister, Thomas Thabane, will soon be accused of killing his wife.

The previous first lady, Leopolio Thabane, was shot in June 2017 near her home in Maseru.

At the time, Lesdotho PM described her killing as "senseless" but police now accuse him of being involved in her killing.

The current wife of the Prime Minister was detained this month and charged with inciting the crime.

"The prime minister will be charged with murder. The police are preparing the directives and will likely be charged tomorrow," said Deputy Commissioner Basika Mukiti.

Thabane, 80, announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down at the end of July, citing old age as the reason for leaving office.

The leader of the small southern African nation has been under mounting pressure over the death of former first lady Lipolelo Thabane and the alleged involvement of his current wife.

She was involved in bitter porce proceedings with Mr Thabane when she was killed.

At the time, the prime minister was living with Maesaiah, 42, as if she was his wife.

But Lipolelo had already won a separate legal battle to be recognised as first lady, as opposed to Maesaiah.

Maesaiah accompanied Mr Thabane to his inauguration, following his estranged wife's death.

Two months later she and Mr Thabane got married in a Catholic ceremony held at a packed stadium in Maseru.

Maesaiah was charged with her rival's murder on 5 February, and is out on bail.

She has not yet been asked to plead to the charge.

Thabane would be the first leader in southern Africa to be charged with murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom.