Tom Thabane
| Tom Thabane | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 5th Prime Minister of Lesotho | |
|
In office 3 September 2014 – 17 March 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | Mothetjoa Metsing (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Pakalitha Mosisili |
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In office 8 June 2012 – 30 August 2014 |
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| Monarch | Letsie III |
| Preceded by | Pakalitha Mosisili |
| Succeeded by | Mothetjoa Metsing (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 May 1939 Maseru, Basutoland |
| Nationality | Mosotho |
| Political party |
ABC (2006–present) LCD (Before 2006) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa (BA) |
Thomas Motsoahae "Tom" Thabane (born 28 May 1939) is a Mosotho politician who was Prime Minister of Lesotho from June 2012 to March 2015. He is leader of the opposition as head of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party. For many years, Thabane was a member of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and served in the government of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili from 1998 to 2006, but in 2006 he split from the LCD and launched the ABC. After more than five years in opposition, he built a coalition of 12 parties in the wake of the May 2012 parliamentary election and was appointed Prime Minister.
In the February 2015 parliamentary election, the All Basotho Convention was democratically removed from power by a 7-party coalition led by his rival and predecessor, Pakalitha Mosisili, although the ABC did win the highest number of constituencies. Two months later, Thabane fled to South Africa with two other opposition leaders, who claimed that their lives were in danger. They returned to Lesotho on 12 February 2017 in order to participate in the parliamentary vote of no confidence that has unseated Prime Minister Mosisili.
Thabane served as Principal Secretary for Health under Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, the second prime minister of Lesotho, until the military overthrew Jonathan 1986. Thabane then served with the military regime under General Justin Metsing Lekhanya until 1991. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho from 1990 to 1991.
Thabane became an advisor to Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle in early 1995. He subsequently served again as Foreign Minister in Mosisili's LCD government from June 1998 until June 2002. Thabane was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety in June 2002 and was appointed Minister of Communications, Science and Technology in November 2004. .
Thabane resigned from the government on October 9, 2006, and formed a new party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC). Thabane claimed that his will was to unite all Basotho, not only those from the Congress party or National Party. Some believed that the formation of the ABC was the beginning of a new political light that could lead Lesotho to economic development. This became apparent in the news broad cast from a South African Radio Station known as Lesedi. It was believed by his supporters that if Thabane became prime minister, he would try to draw new policies that would bring a broader understanding of approach to changing Lesotho's declining hope in the global market.
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