Coalition government collapses

The Government of Lesotho's embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane today collapsed after his coalition partners pulled out. Pressure has escalated on the kingdom's 80-year-old leader to step down over allegations he had a hand in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife. A report on the News24 site notes that Thabane's own All Basotho Convention and two coalition parties yesterday ended their support for Thabane's four-party coalition. 'We have verified by way of reading these letters that the four-party coalition agreement has been terminated,' National Assembly speaker Sephiri Motanyane said during a brief parliamentary sitting. In terms of the Constitution, the speaker will inform King Letsie III of Parliament's intention to form a new government and name a new Premier. That is likely to happen on 22 May. 'Thabane is now a caretaker Prime Minister until 22 May when a new Prime Minister is sworn in,' ABC deputy chairperson Sam Rapapa told AFP. He added that Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro has been appointed as the replacement.