Wife of Lesotho's newly-elected PM shot dead

Lesotho’s new prime minister has lost his wife after she was allegedly shot on Wednesday ahead of his Friday inauguration, reported SABC.

Tom Thabane won the elections earlier this month following a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

Lesotho political party All Basotho Convention leader and candidate Tom Thabane (C) casts his ballot at a polling station on June 3, 2017 in Maseru, during Lesotho's general election.

Lipolelo Thabane, 58, whose divorce with Thabane was yet to be finalized by the High Court, was about to enter the gate of her home in the town of Masana, just outside the capital Maseru, when a gunman opened fire, killing her instantly.

A friend she was with was seriously injured and was reported to be in a critical condition at a local hospital, according to News24.

Police spokesman Clifford Molefe confirmed the incident but declined to give more details. No arrests have been made so far.

September 2, 2014: Bullet holes are seen on a window at the Hamabote police station in Maseru, a few days after it was attacked.

Lesotho plunged into a political crisis following a failed coup attempt in 2014, prompting Thabane to flee to South Africa, saying he feared for his life.

Thabane returned home earlier this year with two other opposition leaders, vowing to win back power.

In March this year, the mountain kingdom again faced a fresh crisis after outgoing Prime Minister Mosisili lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, reports News 24.

(CGTN)