Tom Thabane

Tom Motsoahae Thabane (born 1939) is a political figure in Lesotho. He became a leading member of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and was an important member of the government of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, but in 2006 he split from the LCD and formed an opposition party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC).

Thabane served as Principal Secretary for Health under Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan and then served in the government under the military regime that overthrew Jonathan and ruled the country from 1986 to 1993. [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events19.951.htm "Mosisili Appointed Deputy Prime Minister"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 2, Number 1, First Quarter 1995, trc.org.ls.] He was the Foreign Minister of Lesotho from 1990 to 1991.

Thabane became advisor to Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle in early 1995. He subsequently served as Foreign Minister in Mosisili's LCD government from June 1998 [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events19.982.htm "Appointment of New Cabinet"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 5, Number 2, 2nd quarter 1998, trc.org.ls.] until June 2002. He then served as the Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety from June 2002 [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.022.htm "Parliamentarians and Members of New Cabinet Sworn In"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 9, Number 2, 2nd quarter 2002, trc.org.ls.] until November 2004, when he became Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.044.htm#Major%20Cabinet%20Reshuffle%20Announced "Major Cabinet Reshuffle Announced"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho - 4th quarter 2004, trc.org.ls.] serving in the latter position until 2006.

Thabane resigned from the government on October 9, 2006. He formed a new party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC). [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1160734865522R131 "New Lesotho political party formed"] , AFP (IOL), October 13, 2006.] Thabane claims that his will is to unite all Basotho, not only those from the Congress party or National Party.Fact|date=September 2007 18 MPs crossed the floor to join the ABC in opposition on October 13; [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.064.htm "18 MPs Cross the Floor in the National Assembly to Form New Parliamentary Party"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho - 3rd quarter 2006, trc.org.ls.] 17 of these (including Thabane) had been LCD members, while the remaining MP was an independent. Thabane's party became the third largest party in Parliament. The ruling party was left with 61 of the 120 parliamentary seats, and with this narrow majority, in late November parliament was dissolved and an early election was called for February 2007.Bethuel Thai, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1164922383547B242 "Lesotho will go to the polls in February 2007"] , Reuters ("IOL"), December 1, 2006.] In the election, the ABC took 17 out of 80 constituency seats, while the LCD took 61. Thabane said that the vote was free, but not fair. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20070221093422705C821482 "Win was not fair - opposition"] , AFP ("IOL"), February 21, 2007.]

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.Fact|date=March 2007

On June 14 2007, an assassination attempt on Thabane allegedly occurred, with gunmen firing outside his home. Several other incidents of political violence occurred at around the same time, and an indefinite curfew was imposed; [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20070619220415264C884591 "Lesotho imposes a curfew"] , AFP ("IOL"), June 20, 2007.] [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070624214950447C173430 "Curfew lifted in Lesotho"] , AFP ("IOL"), June 24, 2007.] it was lifted later in the month. Thabane was critical of the curfew and accused the police of excessively harsh enforcement of it.

An extended dispute has followed the 2007 election regarding the allocation of the seats based on proportional representation. The LCD's reluctance to engage in talks prompted Thabane on October 18 2007 to threaten street protests to pressure the government into holding a new election "if they continue to fail to co-operate". [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20071018223047176C444160 "Thabane pressures Lesotho leaders"] , AFP ("IOL"), October 19, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.abc.org.ls ABC website]