Maseru, Lesotho

Transport | Economy

🇱🇸 Maseru is the capital and largest city of Lesotho. It is also the capital of the Maseru District. Located on the Caledon River, Maseru lies directly on the Lesotho–South Africa border. Maseru had a population of 330,760 in the 2016 census. The city was established as a police camp and assigned as the capital after the country became a British protectorate in 1869. When the country achieved independence in 1966, Maseru retained its status as capital. The name of the city is a Sesotho word meaning "red sandstones".

Maseru was founded by the British as a small police camp in 1869, following the conclusion of the Free State–Basotho Wars when Basutoland became a British protectorate. Maseru is located at the edge of the "conquered territories" relinquished to the Orange Free State (now the Free State province of South Africa) as part of the peace terms. It was located 24 km (15 mi) west of Basotho King Moshoeshoe I's stronghold of Thaba Bosiu, the previous de facto capital. A bustling market town soon grew around the area.

Maseru is located in north-west Lesotho by the South African border, denoted by the Mohokare River. Mohokare River is also known as Caledon River. The two countries are connected by a border post at the Maseru Bridge, which crosses the river. On the South African side, Ladybrand is the town closest to Maseru. The city lies in a shallow valley at the foot of the Hlabeng-Sa-Likhama, foothills of the Maloti Mountains. The elevation of the city is listed as 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level. The city has an area of around 138 square km (53 sq mi).

Transport A railway line, built in 1905, bridges the Mohokare River to connect Maseru with Marseilles on South Africa's Bloemfontein–Bethlehem main line.

Kingsway, the road joining the former Leabua Jonathan Airport, now Mejametalana Airport and the Royal Palace in Maseru, was the first paved road in Lesotho. Having previously been just a dirt path, it was renovated in 1947 for the visit of members of the British Royal Family. It remained the only paved road in the country until Lesotho's independence in 1966. Two main roads lead outside of Maseru, Main North 1 to the north-east and Main South 1 to the south-east toward Mazenod and Roma. The South African N8 road leads from the Maseru Bridge border post west towards Ladybrand and Bloemfontein.

An international airport called the Moshoeshoe I International Airport is nearby, at Thoteng-ea-Moli, Mazenod. The National University of Lesotho is located in Roma, 32 km (20 mi) from Maseru.

Economy The commerce in the city is centered on two neighboring central business districts, which have developed around Kingsway and serve as major employment centres. The western business district holds larger office buildings, department stores and several banks. The eastern business district hosts mainly smaller businesses, markets and street vendors. The central business districts are the largest employment centres within the city.

Maseru's economy is one that is growing at a very rapid speed, which is notable particularly in terms of foreign investment and tourism since independence from Britain, and economic ruin when political violence broke out in 1998. Since the riots, the city has worked hard to undo the damage caused. Maseru's industry is split into two main areas. The one to the north of the central business districts along Moshoeshoe Road holds flour mills and other major companies. The other industrial sector lies to the south of the central business districts, at the Thetsane district, and houses mainly textile and footwear companies.

Up until 2004 Maseru had a growing textile industry supported by and invested in by Chinese manufacturing concerns. Since the expiration of the Multi Fibre Arrangement the textile industry in Lesotho has diminished. The city's products once included candles, carpets and mohair products but these have been overshadowed by South African industries.

Maseru Time 
Maseru Time
Image: Lschefa

Maseru was ranked #888 by the Nomad List which evaluates and ranks remote work hubs by cost, internet, fun and safety. Maseru has a population of over 330,760 people. Maseru also forms part of the wider Lesotho state which has a population of over 2,108,328 people.

To set up a UBI Lab for Maseru see: https://www.ubilabnetwork.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/UBILabNetwork

Twin Towns, Sister Cities Maseru has links with:

🇺🇸 Austin, USA 🇪🇸 Ceuta, Spain 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 St David's, Wales
Text Atribution: Wikipedia Text under CC-BY-SA license | Nomad

Antipodal to Maseru is: -152.508,29.308

Locations Near: Maseru 27.4916,-29.3083

🇱🇸 Hlotse 28.033,-28.867 d: 72  

🇿🇦 Masilonyana 27.017,-28.517 d: 99.4  

🇿🇦 Bloemfontein 26.223,-29.118 d: 124.9  

🇿🇦 Virginia 26.85,-28.1 d: 148.2  

🇿🇦 Phuthaditjhaba 28.817,-28.533 d: 155.1  

🇿🇦 Odendaalsrus 26.67,-27.874 d: 178.5  

🇿🇦 Harrismith 29.133,-28.283 d: 196.4  

🇿🇦 Bothaville 26.617,-27.383 d: 230.5  

🇿🇦 Cacadu 27.234,-31.703 d: 267.4  

🇿🇦 Parys 27.45,-26.9 d: 267.8  

Antipodal to: Maseru -152.508,29.308

🇺🇸 Kahului -156.466,20.891 d: 18998.1  

🇺🇸 Wailuku -156.505,20.894 d: 18996.8  

🇺🇸 Maui County -156.617,20.868 d: 18989.6  

🇺🇸 Maui -156.446,20.72 d: 18981.2  

🇺🇸 Pearl City -157.969,21.394 d: 18978.4  

🇺🇸 Honolulu -157.85,21.3 d: 18975.6  

🇺🇸 Hilo -155.089,19.725 d: 18918.1  

🇺🇸 Kapa'a -159.333,22.083 d: 18960.6  

🇺🇸 Līhuʻe -159.35,21.967 d: 18949.4  

🇺🇸 Lihue -159.35,21.967 d: 18949.4  

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