Maseru
Maseru | |
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Top: Downtown Maseru; Middle: Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, Basotho Hat Shop; Bottom: Honeymoon Park, Lesotho Parliament Building | |
UTC+2 (SAST) | |
Climate | Cwb |
Maseru is the
History
Maseru was founded by the
Maseru initially functioned as the state's administrative capital between 1869 and 1871, before administration of Basutoland was transferred to the
Prior to Lesotho's independence, Maseru had remained relatively small; it was contained within well-defined colonial boundaries and had little room for growth, while the British had little interest in developing the city. After 1966 Maseru experienced rapid expansion: its area increased around sevenfold, from around 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) to the current area of 138 square kilometres (53 sq mi), due to incorporation of nearby peri-urban villages to the city proper.[1][5] The annual population growth rates remained around 7% for several decades, before tapering off to around 3.5% between 1986 and 1996.[5]
After the 1998 parliamentary elections in Lesotho led to suspicions of vote fraud and a military intervention by South Africa, much of the city was damaged by riots and pillaging.[8] The cost of repairing the damage done to the city was estimated at two billion rand (US$350 million),[9] and until almost 2008, the effects of the riots could still be seen within the city.[10]
Geography
Maseru is located in northwest Lesotho by the
Climate
Maseru has a
Climate data for Maseru (1931–1960) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) |
27 (81) |
25 (77) |
21 (70) |
18 (64) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
19 (66) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
26 (79) |
28 (82) |
23 (72) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
14 (57) |
12 (54) |
8 (46) |
3 (37) |
0 (32) |
−1 (30) |
2 (36) |
6 (43) |
9 (48) |
12 (54) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 114 (4.5) |
89 (3.5) |
96 (3.8) |
67 (2.6) |
29 (1.1) |
12 (0.5) |
14 (0.6) |
15 (0.6) |
19 (0.7) |
63 (2.5) |
80 (3.1) |
93 (3.7) |
691 (27.2) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 13 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 88 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
37 | 42 | 43 | 42 | 38 | 35 | 32 | 27 | 24 | 30 | 34 | 35 | 35 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 287 | 263 | 259 | 241 | 247 | 232 | 254 | 279 | 278 | 276 | 279 | 307 | 3,202 |
Source: Danish Meteorological Institute[13] |
Demographics
The latest (2016) census lists the city's population at 330,760, or around a tenth of the entire population of the country, and half of the total urban population. The population of the city was at 98,017 by the 1986 census, and 137,837 by the 1996 census, demonstrating the early rapid expansion of the city after independence.[1]
Transport
Kingsway, the road joining the former
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 kilometres (20 mi) from Maseru.
Economy
The commerce in the city is centred on two neighbouring 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.[1] The central business districts are the largest employment centres within the city.[1]
Maseru's economy is one that is growing at a very rapid speed,[citation needed] 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.[1]
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.[15] The city's products once included candles, carpets and mohair products but these have been overshadowed by South African industries.
Places of worship
Among the
Architecture
Most of the traditional thatched-roof mud-brick houses, called rondavels, have been replaced with modern housing and office blocks which have a tint of traditional architecture.[citation needed] There have recently[when?] been some new buildings in the centre of the city, particularly the building across LNDC centre which now houses Good times cafe, a Vodacom shop, offices and the new building of the Ministry of Health which was completed in late 2007.[citation needed]
Buildings destroyed in the
There are some colonial era buildings around the centre of the city, most notably the Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maseru, and the Anglican St. John's Church.[1] Other sights include the Royal Palace, the Parliament building and the State House.[17]
Sports
Lesotho's
12 out of 16 of the teams playing in the
Twin towns – sister cities
List of
References
- ^ .
- ^ A. Mabille; H. Dieterlen (1993). Southern Sotho English Dictionary (reclassified, revised and enlarged by R. A. Paroz; 1950 ed.). Morija: Morija Sesuto Book Depot. p. 349.
- ^ Britannica,Maseru, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^ Baffour Ankomah; Khalid Bazid (May 2003). "Lesotho: Africa's Best Kept Secret". New African.
- ^ ISBN 91-7106-518-0.
- ISBN 1-77007-142-3.
- ISBN 0-313-27917-9.
- ^ "It All Went Wrong". The Economist. Vol. 349, no. 8087. 26 September 1998. p. 49.
- ^ "Lesotho billed for South African intervention". BBC News. 9 October 1998. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ^ "Straw men". Mail & Guardian Online. 15 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ISBN 1-74104-162-7.
- ^ a b c "Lesotho: Basic data". The Economist Intelligence Unit. 30 March 2007.
- ^ Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens. "Lesotho - Maseru" (PDF). Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960) (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 166. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ Fitzpatrick et al. 2004, p. 522
- ^ Peete Monolapo (September–October 2007). "Lesotho: The Promise of Africa". Foreign Policy (162).
- ^ Britannica, Lesotho, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^ "SADC Summit 2006". Southern African Development Community. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
- ^ "Setsoto Stadium to Be Revamped". Lesotho Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ^ "Lesotho Teams". Lesotho Football Association. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0415234794.
External links
- Maseru travel guide from Wikivoyage