Dr Thabane’s daughter launches spirited defence of her father after the prime minister is accused of abusing state resources on his partner
Keiso Mohloboli
Advocate Nkoya Thabane, who is Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s daughter, has launched a spirited defence of her father following accusations the veteran All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader is allegedly abusing public funds on his partner, Liabiloe Ramoholi.
Ms Ramoholi’s romantic relationship with the ABC leader, her personal protection by the police, use of government vehicles and charity work under the Prime Minister’s Office despite not being Dr Thabane’s official wife, have become topical issues in Lesotho and triggered calls for his investigation for alleged abuse of power.
However, his daughter told the Lesotho Times in an interview yesterday that the family wanted to set the record straight “once and for all” regarding the issue.
“According to my father’s contract as premier, his spouse or partner is entitled to benefits such as security, transport, shelter and carrying out charity work under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office.
“It would, indeed, be a serious crime if my stepmother was also enjoying those benefits, which has never been the case.
“This means Ms Ramoholi is the only one enjoying my father’s perks as his partner or spouse,” Advocate Thabane said.
“Again, it would be considered a crime if ever my father was splitting his state benefits between his wives and Ms Ramoholi.
“It should also be clear that Ms Ramoholi was never guarded by the police or soldiers before her house in Moshoeshoe II was bombed by unknown assailants on the night of 27 January this year.
“Because of the dangers associated with her being my father’s partners, he decided to share his benefits with her, which I have mentioned.”
According to Advocate Thabane, the charity work Ms Ramoholi (37) has been undertaking since last month — in which she is visiting various districts of the country and donating groceries and other necessities to needy communities — is not being done under the office of the First Lady.
This, she said, is for the simple reason that she is not legally married to the 75-year-old premier.
“As the premier’s partner, Ms Ramoholi is giving back to the community under the Office of the Prime Minister without getting any salary for whatever she is doing.
“She is simply doing charity work for the benefit of needy Basotho, and she is not doing this under the Office of the First Lady as people are saying.
“As far as I know, that office was supposed to have been shut down (when former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili officially handed over power to Dr Thabane on 8 June 2012).”
Advocate Thabane further noted despite all the allegations that Dr Thabane is “a heartbreaker and player” due to his previous two marriages, the veteran politician was “human” and entitled to have a partner.
“It is true that my father has a pending divorce which is before the courts, but I am an advocate specialising in family law, and I have since learned that divorce is part of life.
“Divorce is something that I do professionally and I realised that for as long as you are not happy in a marriage, it is best to get out of that union,” she said.
However, Advocate Thabane admitted her father is “a controversial man”, hence she was never surprised when his relationship with Ms Ramoholi developed to where it is today.
“My father can stand up and answer for his actions and always tells us, as his children, that he will always respect us but remains only accountable to God the Almighty.”
Advocate Thabane further said around 2006 and 2007, her father told the family that he was divorcing his second wife, Mrs Lipolelo Thabane, because he was no longer happy in the marriage.
“But I was never aware of my father’s relationship with Ms Ramoholi until her house was bombed in January.
“I was so surprised by the news of the relationship because I only knew her as my friend.
“We used to contribute transport money with Ms Ramoholi so we could attend ABC rallies, and I was not aware that she was also my father’s lover.
“I was shocked, disappointed and so angry when I learnt about it through the media because I was a bit protective of my father and also concerned about Ms Ramoholi’s age.
“I also felt cheated that she was my friend but never shared her love affair with my father with me.”
Advocate Thabane said she decided to confront Ms Ramoholi regarding the issue, only to realise the two were really in love.
“I approached her, and told her that she was giving the Thabane family a very bad name and that she should stop her affair with my father.
“But she was so calm as I spoke to her and told me that some of the issues that I had brought up were true, but exaggerated.
“I then realised that we share the same qualities because she calls a spade a spade. She is frank, generous and very kind.
“She is never the terrible person that some people would want to portray her to be.”
According to Advocate Thabane, her father never intended to get married again following his separation with his second wife Mrs Lipolelo Thabane.
However, following his installation as Lesotho’s prime minister in June 2012, this decision could no longer hold.
“Religious leaders from the Christian Council of Lesotho approached my father and advised him to get married because it was not proper for a man of his status to be living with a woman yet he was not married to her.
“So it is a fact that he intends to get married to Ms Ramoholi as soon as both their divorce cases are settled in court.
“It is also a known fact that Ms Ramoholi was once married, so once the court cases are cleared, then the two will get married.
“But the bottom line is there is nothing wrong with whatever she has been getting from government as my father’s benefits and the nation must be aware of this as there has been so much misinformation regarding the issue,” she said.
