Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has resigned after months of pressure over his alleged involvement in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017.

In a televised address Tuesday morning, Thabane said the time had come for him to retire "from the great theater of action, take leave from public office." He blamed his resignation on rival politicians seeking political gain.

Thabane's former wife,&nbsp;Lipolelo<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2020/01/21/africa/lesotho-pm-wife-killing-probe/index.html" target="_blank">,</a>&nbsp;was shot by gunmen shortly before his inauguration as the Prime Minister of the tiny African nation. The couple were separated and had been pursuing a divorce before her death.

His current wife,&nbsp;Maesaiah Thabane, has been charged in the murder and has been granted bail.

The country's police also&nbsp;sought to charge&nbsp;the Prime Minister with Thabane's murder, but his lawyers argue he should be granted immunity against prosecution.

The official resignation comes after the 80-year-old Thabane repeatedly said that he would retire.

<section data-containers="20" data-eq-pts="xsmall: 0, medium: 460, large: 780, full16x9: 1100" data-eq-state="xsmall medium large" data-vr-zone="zone-1-0" data-zn-id="body-text" data-zone-label="bodyText" id="body-text">
He will be replaced by his finance minister Moeketsi Majoro who will be inaugurated Wednesday.
</section>

<ul data-layout="list-hierarchical-xs">
</ul>

Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has resigned after months of pressure over his alleged involvement in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017. In a televised address Tuesday morning, Thabane said the time had come for him to retire "from the great theater of action, take leave from public office.

Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has resigned after months of pressure over his alleged involvement in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017. In a televised address Tuesday morning, Thabane said the time had come for him to retire "from the great theater of action, take leave from public office." He blamed his resignation on rival politicians seeking political gain. Thabane's former wife, Lipolelo, was shot by gunmen shortly before his inauguration as the Prime Minister of the tiny African nation. The couple were separated and had been pursuing a divorce before her death. His current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, has been charged in the murder and has been granted bail. The country's police also sought to charge the Prime Minister with Thabane's murder, but his lawyers argue he should be granted immunity against prosecution. The official resignation comes after the 80-year-old Thabane repeatedly said that he would retire. He will be replaced by his finance minister Moeketsi Majoro who will be inaugurated Wednesday.

Lesotho's Prime Minister resigns over allegations of murdering estranged wife

Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has been charged with the murder of his ex-wife. He would be the first African leader who has been charged with the first domestic murder while in office.

Lesotho PM charged with murder of ex-wife

lesotho-pm

Lesotho Pm, News on Lesotho Pm, stories on Lesotho Pm, articles on Lesotho Pm, Lesotho Pm stories at Wion, Lesotho Pm news, Lesotho Pm latest news

lesotho pm

Lesotho's Prime Minister resigns over allegations of murdering estranged wife

Lesotho PM charged with murder of ex-wife