Mozambique
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Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction. |
Geography
| Location: | Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania |
| Geographic coordinates: | 18 15 S, 35 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | water: 17,500 sq km |
| land: 784,090 sq km | |
| total: 801,590 sq km | |
| Area - comparative: | Slightly less than twice the size of California |
| Land boundaries: | total: 4,571 km |
| Border countries: | Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km |
| Coastline: | 2,470 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical to subtropical |
| Terrain: | mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
| highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m | |
| Natural resources: | coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite |
| Land use: | arable land: 5.43% |
| permanent crops: 0.29% | |
| other: 94.28% (2005) | |
| Irrigated land: | 1,180 sq km (2003) |
| Total renewable water resources: | 216 cu km (1992) |
| Natural hazards: | severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces |
| Environment - current issues: | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
| Geography - note: | the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country |
People
| Population: | 21,284,700 |
| Nationality: | noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican |
| Ethnic groups: | African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08% |
| Religions: | Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% |
| Languages: | Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% |
| Literacy: | total population: 47.8% |
Government
| Country name: |
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique |
| Government type: |
republic |
| Capital: |
name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E |
| Independence: |
25 June 1975 (from Portugal) |
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 25 June (1975) |
| Constitution: | 30 November 1990 |
| Legal system: |
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Flag description: | three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book |
Economy
| Economy - overview: | At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007 the government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company. More power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export gap. |
| Agriculture - products: |
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry |
| Industries: | food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco |
| Currency (code): | metical (MZM) |
Communications
| Telephone system: | fair system with an extremely low density of less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala international: country code - 258; |
| Internet country code: | .mz |
Transportation
| Airports: | 147 (2007) |
| Railways: | total: 22 |
| Roadways: | total: 30,400 km |
| paved: 5,685 km | |
| unpaved: 24,715 km (2000) | |
| Waterways: | 460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2007) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 2 |
| Ports and terminals: | Beira, Maputo, Nacala |
Military
| Military branches: |
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) |
