1. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane was born on 28 May 1939 and is a Mosotho politician who was the fifth Prime Minister of Lesotho from 2012 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2020.
37 Facts About Tom Thabane
1. 2.
Tom Thabane founded the All Basotho Convention in 2006 and led the party until 2022.
3.
Tom Thabane served in the government of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili from 1998 to 2006 as a member of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy, but in 2006 he split from the LCD and launched the All Basotho Convention.
4.
Two months later, Tom Thabane fled to South Africa with two other opposition leaders, claiming that their lives were in danger.
5.
Tom Thabane went on to win a plurality of seats in the subsequent parliamentary election and returned as prime minister.
6.
In 2020, Tom Thabane faced pressure to resign as prime minister due to his alleged involvement in his ex-spouse's murder.
7.
Tom Thabane served as Principal Secretary for Health under Leabua Jonathan, the second prime minister of Lesotho, until the military overthrew Jonathan in 1986.
8.
Tom Thabane then served with the military regime under General Justin Lekhanya until 1991.
9.
Tom Thabane was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1991.
10.
Tom Thabane became an advisor to Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle in early 1995.
11.
Tom Thabane subsequently served again as Foreign Minister in Mosisili's LCD government from June 1998 to June 2002, when he was appointed as Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety.
12.
Tom Thabane resigned from the government on 9 October 2006, and formed a new party, the All Basotho Convention.
13.
Tom Thabane claimed that his goal was to unite all Basotho, not only those from the Congress party or National Party.
14.
On 14 June 2007, an assassination attempt on Tom Thabane allegedly occurred, with gunmen firing outside his home.
15.
Tom Thabane was critical of the curfew and accused the police of excessively harsh enforcement of it.
16.
Tom Thabane condemned the government for placing blame on the opposition, describing it as "treachery".
17.
Tom Thabane fled to South Africa on 30 August 2014, alleging that the military was attempting to take power and wanted to kill him.
18.
Tom Thabane said that he would go back to Lesotho only if he felt his life was not in danger.
19.
Tom Thabane returned to Lesotho on 3 September 2014 under the protection of South African police.
20.
Tom Thabane's party failed to attain a majority in the 2015 snap election and was unsuccessful in forming a coalition government.
21.
Tom Thabane cited Nelson Mandela as an example of a leader who voluntarily left office.
22.
Tom Thabane claimed that he was risking his life by returning.
23.
Tom Thabane was sworn in as prime minister on 16 June 2017.
24.
In October 2017 rumours that Tom Thabane had been hospitalised in South Africa were dismissed by a spokesperson as propaganda intended to destabilise Lesotho.
25.
In 2020, Tom Thabane faced pressure to resign due to allegations of murdering his ex-wife.
26.
Tom Thabane initially resisted calls from ABC members to step down as leader.
27.
Tom Thabane announced his intention to relinquish the party leadership in January 2022, citing poor health and his advanced age.
28.
Tom Thabane retained her married name after they divorced and died of natural causes on 26 August 2017 at the age of 79.
29.
Tom Thabane was next married to Lipolelo Tom Thabane, who filed for divorce from him in 2012.
30.
On 14 June 2017, Lipolelo Tom Thabane was shot dead in Ha-'Masana, outside Maseru.
31.
On 27 August 2017, Tom Thabane married Maesiah Tom Thabane at a Catholic ceremony in Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.
32.
On 10 January 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Maesiah Tom Thabane, who is wanted in connection with the 2017 murder of Lipolelo Tom Thabane.
33.
Maesiah Tom Thabane went into hiding and Prime Minister Tom Thabane announced his intent to resign from office shortly after her arrest warrant was issued.
34.
On 20 February 2020, police announced that Tom Thabane would be charged with murder in the case.
35.
On 21 February 2020, Tom Thabane failed to appear in court for the case, with his son saying he had traveled to South Africa to see a doctor.
36.
On 22 February 2020, Tom Thabane was granted a sick leave until 27 February when he is due to appear in court to hear the charges, the country's deputy police commissioner said.
37.
On 24 February 2020, while on sick leave, Tom Thabane appeared in a Maseru court for a pre-trial hearing.