South Africa will send pathologists and Zimbabwe and Namibia will send investigators to probe the killing of Lesotho’s former army commander General Maaparankoe Mahao last Thursday.

They were asked to do this by Lesotho’s Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili who will attend a summit of the regional intergovernmental body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which has been called for Friday to discuss the death of Mahao.

It has thrown Lesotho into turmoil and all three opposition leaders have fled the country, fearing for their lives. This includes former Prime Minister Tom Thabane who was an ally of Mahao.

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, SADC’s Lesotho facilitator, announced these developments on Wednesday evening at the end of his mission to Lesotho to address the new crisis in the country.

He was sent to Lesotho as special envoy of President Jacob Zuma who is chairperson of SADC’s security organ.

Ramaphosa said he had come to deliver an invitation from Zuma to Mosisili to attend the summit of both SADC troikas in Pretoria on Friday. Leaders of the three countries currently representing SADC itself and the three representing the security organ are due to attend the summit.

“Prime Minister Mosisili has requested that SADC should assist with the investigation into the death of Lieutenant General Mahao, as well as to assist with the pathology examination around his death,” Ramaphosa told journalists at the end of his trip.

“South Africa will be sending pathologists, to do the examination and other countries in the region; Zimbabwe and Namibia will be sending investigators to investigate the circumstances around Lieutenant General Mahao’s death.”

Ramaphosa said he had also met opposition parties, churches, NGOs and King Letsie III.

“And no doubt everyone is very concerned about the passing of Lieutenant General Mahao,” Ramaphosa said. “It is this that has prompted the leaders in the region to call a summit of the Double Troika.

“And I am sure that out of that discussion will come suggestions, proposals and solutions of how to take matters forward here in Lesotho.”

Ramaphosa said he had also visited Mahao’s widow and other relatives to express his condolences.