Maesaiah Thabane with her husband, Thomas Thabane

The first lady of Lesotho, Maesaiah Thabane is set to be charged with murder in connection with the 2017 killing of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mokete Paseka said Maesaiah would spend the night in custody and will be taken to court.

“She has been charged with murder alongside eight others who are in Lesotho and South Africa,” Paseka told reporters.

He said police had a “strong case” against the first lady, who was unable to appear in court on Tuesday due to logistical reasons.

The eight other accused will also be summoned by the police.

Lipolelo’s murder occurred two days before Thomas Thabane’s inauguration as Prime Minister for a second term in 2017, and two years after a court ruled that Lipolelo was the lawful first lady and entitled to benefits.

Thomas Thabane, 80, married Maesaiah two months after Lipolelo’s death.

Police also interrogated the prime minister following the alleged use of his mobile phone to communicate with someone who was at the scene of the murder.

He has bowed to pressure and offered to resign but the date of his resignation has not yet been disclosed.