Maseru

Maseru, town and capital of Lesotho, western Lesotho, on the Mohokare (Caledon) River, at the border with South Africa. Maseru is a road and trade center for livestock, hides and skins, wool, and grain, all produced in the vicinity. It is the site of Lesotho Agricultural College (1955); close by, at Roma, is the National University of Lesotho (1966). The town succeeded nearby Thaba Bosiu as capital of the British-protected Basuto nation in 1869 and became capital of the independent kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. Population (1999) 373,000.