Mozambique - Wikipedia

Mozambique - Wikipedia
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Coordinates
18°15′S
35°00′E
 / 
18.250°S 35.000°E
 /
-18.250; 35.000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Country in Southeastern Africa
This article is about the modern country since 1990, and the Portuguese colony until 1975. For the former country from 1975 to 1990, see
People's Republic of Mozambique
. For other uses, see
Mozambique (disambiguation)
Republic of Mozambique
República de Moçambique
Portuguese
Flag
Emblem
Anthem:
Pátria Amada
(Portuguese)
"Beloved Homeland"
Show globe
Show map of Africa
Capital
and largest city
Maputo
25°57′S
32°35′E
 / 
25.950°S 32.583°E
 /
-25.950; 32.583
Official languages
Portuguese
Recognised regional languages
Makhuwa
Sena
Tsonga
Lomwe
Swahili
Ethnic groups
(2017)
99.0%
African
0.8%
Mestiço
0.1%
White
0.1% other
Religion
(2017)
62.0%
Christianity
19.1%
Islam
13.5%
no religion
4.3% other
1.2% unknown
Demonym
Mozambican
Government
Unitary dominant-party
semi-presidential republic
under an
authoritarian
government
President
Daniel Chapo
Prime Minister
Maria Benvinda Levy
Legislature
Assembly of the Republic
Independence
from
Portugal
Granted
25 June 1975
Civil War
1977–1992
Current constitution
21 December 2004
Area
• Total
801,590 km
(309,500 sq mi) (
35th
• Water (%)
2.2
Population
• 2024 estimate
34,881,007
45th
• Density
43.5/km
(112.7/sq mi) (
176th
GDP
PPP
2025 estimate
• Total
$61.950 billion
126th
• Per capita
$1,730
182nd
GDP
(nominal)
2025 estimate
• Total
$23.770 billion
120th
• Per capita
$663
183rd
Gini
(2019)
50.4
10
high inequality
HDI
(2023)
0.493
11
low
183rd
Currency
Metical
MZN
Time zone
UTC
+2
CAT
Calling code
+258
ISO 3166 code
MZ
Internet TLD
.mz
Website
portaldogoverno
.gov
.mz
Mozambique
officially the
Republic of Mozambique
is a country in
Southeast Africa
bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east,
Tanzania
to the north,
Malawi
and
Zambia
to the northwest,
Zimbabwe
to the west, and
Eswatini
and
South Africa
to the south and southwest. The
sovereign state
is separated from the
Comoros
Mayotte
, and
Madagascar
through the
Mozambique Channel
to the east. The capital and largest city is
Maputo
Between the 7th and 11th centuries, a series of Swahili port towns developed in the area, which contributed to the development of a distinct
Swahili culture
and dialect. In the late medieval period, these towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia,
Egypt
, Arabia, Persia, and
India
12
The voyage of
Vasco da Gama
in 1498 marked the arrival of the
Portuguese
, who began a gradual process of colonisation and settlement in 1505. After over four centuries of
Portuguese rule
, Mozambique
gained independence
in 1975, becoming the
People's Republic of Mozambique
shortly thereafter. After only two years of independence, the country descended into an intense and protracted
civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992
. In 1994, Mozambique held its first multiparty elections and has since remained a relatively stable
presidential republic
, although it still faces a
low-intensity insurgency
mainly in the furthest regions from the southern capital and where Islam is dominant.
Mozambique is endowed with rich and extensive natural resources. The country's economy is based chiefly on fishery—mostly
molluscs
crustaceans
and
echinoderms
—and agriculture with a growing industry of food and beverages, chemical manufacturing, aluminium and oil. The tourism sector is expanding. Mozambique's GDP grew significantly after 2001, but since 2014/15, both a significant decrease in household real consumption and a sharp rise in
economic inequality
have been observed.
13
The nation remains one of the poorest and
most underdeveloped countries
in the world,
14
ranking low in
GDP per capita
human development
, measures of
inequality
and average
life expectancy
15
Mozambique's population of around 34,777,605 as of 2024 estimates (a 2.96% increase from 2023) consists of more than 2,000 ethnic groups and is composed overwhelmingly of
Bantu peoples
. However, the only official language in the country is
Portuguese
, which is spoken in urban areas as a first or second language by most, and generally as a
lingua franca
between younger Mozambicans with access to formal education. The most important local languages include
Tsonga
Makhuwa
Sena
Chichewa
, and
Swahili
Glottolog
lists 46 languages spoken in the country,
16
of which one is a signed language (Mozambican Sign Language/
Língua de sinais de Moçambique
). The most popular
religion in Mozambique
is Christianity, with significant minorities following Islam and
African traditional religions
Etymology
edit
The country was named Moçambique by the Portuguese after the
Island of Mozambique
, derived from either
Mussa Bin Bique
Musa Al Big,
Mossa Al Bique
Mussa Ben Mbiki
or
Mussa Ibn Malik
, an Arab trader who first visited the island and later lived there
17
and was still alive when
Vasco da Gama
called at the island in 1498.
18
The island-town was the capital of the Portuguese colony until 1898, when it was moved south to Lourenço Marques (now
Maputo
).
History
edit
Main article:
History of Mozambique
Mozambican
dhow
Bantu migrations
edit
Further information:
Bantu expansion
Bantu
-speaking peoples migrated into Mozambique as early as the 4th century BC.
19
It is believed between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, waves of migration from the west and north went through the
Zambezi
River valley and then gradually into the plateau and coastal areas of Southern Africa.
20
They established agricultural communities or societies based on herding cattle. They brought with them the technology for smelting
21
and smithing iron.
Swahili Coast
edit
Arab-Swahili slave traders and their captives on the
Ruvuma River
From the late first millennium AD, vast
Indian Ocean trade
networks extended as far south as present day
Vilankulo
, as evidenced by the ancient port town of
Chibuene
22
Beginning in the 9th century, a growing involvement in Indian Ocean trade led to the development of numerous port towns along the entire East African coast, including modern day Mozambique. Largely autonomous, these towns broadly participated in the incipient
Swahili culture
. Islam was often adopted by urban elites, facilitating trade. In Mozambique,
Sofala
Angoche
, and Mozambique Island were regional powers by the 15th century.
23
The towns traded with merchants from both the African interior and the broader Indian Ocean world. Particularly important were the gold and ivory caravan routes. Inland states like the
Kingdom of Zimbabwe
and
Kingdom of Mutapa
provided the coveted gold and ivory, which were then exchanged up the coast to larger port cities like
Kilwa
and
Mombasa
24
Portuguese Mozambique (1498–1960)
edit
Further information:
Portuguese Mozambique
Detail of the
Island of Mozambique
, former capital in Northern Mozambique and prominent in the country's history
Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte
Fort São Sebastião
The
Island of Mozambique
, after which the country is named, is a small coral island at the mouth of Mossuril Bay on the
Nacala
coast of northern Mozambique, and was first explored by Europeans in the late 15th century.
When Portuguese explorers reached Mozambique in 1498, Arab-trading settlements had existed along the coast and outlying islands for several centuries.
25
26
From about 1500, Portuguese trading posts and forts displaced the Arabic commercial and military hegemony, becoming regular ports of call on the new European sea route to the east,
20
27
the first steps in what was to become a process of colonisation.
27
28
The voyage of
Vasco da Gama
around the
Cape of Good Hope
in 1498 marked the Portuguese entry into trade, politics, and society of the region. The Portuguese gained control of the Island of Mozambique and the port city of Sofala in the early 16th century, and by the 1530s, small groups of Portuguese traders and prospectors seeking gold penetrated the interior regions. Here they set up garrisons and trading posts at
Sena
and
Tete
on the Zambezi and tried to gain exclusive control over the gold trade.
26
In the central part of the Mozambique territory, the Portuguese attempted to legitimise and consolidate their trade and settlement positions through the creation of
prazos
26
These land grants tied emigrants to their settlements, and inland Mozambique was largely left to be administered by
prazeiros
, the grant holders, while central authorities in Portugal concentrated their direct exercise of power on, in their view, the more important Portuguese possessions in Asia and the Americas.
26
29
Slavery in Mozambique pre-dated European-contact. African rulers and chiefs dealt in enslaved people, first with Arab Muslim traders, who sent the enslaved to Middle East Asia cities and plantations, and later with Portuguese and other European traders. In a continuation of the trade, slaves were supplied by warring local African rulers, who raided enemy tribes and sold their captives to the
prazeiros
. The authority of the
prazeiros
was exercised and upheld amongst the local population by armies of these enslaved men, whose members became known as
Chikunda
26
Continuing emigration from Portugal occurred at comparatively low levels until late in the nineteenth century, promoting "Africanisation".
26
While
prazos
were originally intended to be held solely by Portuguese colonists, through intermarriage and the relative isolation of
prazeiros
from ongoing Portuguese influences, the
prazos
became African-Portuguese or African-Indian.
26
27
View of the Central Avenue in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, ca. 1905
Although Portuguese influence gradually expanded, its power was limited and exercised through individual settlers and officials who were granted extensive autonomy. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims between 1500 and 1700, but, with the Arab Muslim seizure of Portugal's key foothold at
Fort Jesus
on
Mombasa Island
(now in Kenya) in 1698, the pendulum began to swing in the other direction. As a result, investment lagged while
Lisbon
devoted itself to the more lucrative trade with India and the Far East and to the colonisation of Brazil.
20
The
Mazrui
and
Omani Arabs
reclaimed much of the Indian Ocean trade, forcing the Portuguese to retreat south. Many
prazos
had declined by the mid-19th century, but several of them survived. During the 19th century other European powers, particularly the British (
British South Africa Company
) and the French (Madagascar), became increasingly involved in the trade and politics of the region around the Portuguese East African territories.
30
Portuguese language printing and typesetting class, 1930
By the early 20th century the Portuguese had shifted the administration of much of Mozambique to large private companies, like the
Mozambique Company
, the
Zambezia Company
and the
Niassa Company
, controlled and financed mostly by British financiers such as
Solomon Joel
, which established railroad lines to their neighbouring colonies (South Africa and
Rhodesia
). Although slavery had been legally abolished in Mozambique, at the end of the 19th century the chartered companies enacted a forced labour policy and supplied cheap—often forced—African labour to the mines and
plantations
of the nearby British colonies and South Africa.
20
The Zambezia Company, the most profitable chartered company, took over several smaller
prazeiro
holdings and established military outposts to protect its property. The chartered companies built roads and ports to bring their goods to market including a railroad linking present-day Zimbabwe with the Mozambican port of
Beira
31
32
Due to their unsatisfactory performance and the shift, under the
corporatist
Estado Novo
regime of
Oliveira Salazar
, toward stronger state control of the
Portuguese Empire
's economy, the companies' concessions were not renewed when they ran out. This was what happened in 1942 with the Mozambique Company, which, however, continued to operate in the agricultural and commercial sectors as a corporation, and had already happened in 1929 with the termination of the Niassa Company's concession. In 1951, the Portuguese overseas colonies in Africa were rebranded as Overseas Provinces of Portugal.
31
32
33
The
Mueda massacre
of 16 June 1960 resulted in the death of
Makonde
protestors, which provoked the struggle of independence from Portuguese rule of Mozambique.
Mozambican War of Independence (1961–1974)
edit
Main articles:
Mozambican War of Independence
and
Portuguese Colonial War
Portuguese troops during the
Portuguese Colonial War
, some loading
FN FAL
AR-10
and
H&K G3
As
communist
and
anti-colonial
ideologies spread out across Africa, many clandestine political movements were established in support of Mozambican independence. These movements claimed that since policies and development plans were primarily designed by the ruling authorities for the benefit of Mozambique's Portuguese population, little attention was paid to Mozambique's tribal integration and the development of its native communities.
34
According to the official guerrilla statements, this affected a majority of the indigenous population who suffered both state-sponsored discrimination and enormous social pressure. As a response to the guerrilla movement, the Portuguese government, from the 1960s and principally the early 1970s, initiated gradual changes with new socioeconomic developments and egalitarian policies.
35
The Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (
FRELIMO
) initiated a guerrilla campaign against Portuguese rule in September 1964. This conflict—along with the two others already initiated in the other Portuguese colonies of
Angola
and
Portuguese Guinea
—became part of the so-called
Portuguese Colonial War
(1961–1974). From a military standpoint, the Portuguese regular army maintained control of the population centres while the guerrilla forces sought to undermine their influence in rural and tribal areas in the north and west. As part of their response to FRELIMO, the Portuguese government began to pay more attention to creating favourable conditions for social development and economic growth.
36
Independence (1975)
edit
FRELIMO took control of the territory after ten years of sporadic warfare, as well as Portugal's own return to democracy after the fall of the authoritarian
Estado Novo
regime in the
Carnation Revolution
of April 1974 and the failed
coup of 25 November 1975
. Within a year, most of the 250,000 Portuguese in Mozambique had left—some expelled by the government of the nearly independent territory, some left the country to avoid possible reprisals from the unstable government—and Mozambique became independent from Portugal on 25 June 1975.
37
A law had been passed on the initiative of the relatively unknown
Armando Guebuza
of the FRELIMO party, ordering the Portuguese to leave the country in 24 hours with only 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of luggage. Unable to salvage any of their assets, most of them returned to Portugal penniless.
38
Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992)
edit
Main articles:
People's Republic of Mozambique
and
Mozambican Civil War
A land mine victim in Mozambique
The
new government
under President
Samora Machel
established a
one-party state
based on
Marxist
principles. It received diplomatic and some military support from
Cuba
and the
Soviet Union
and proceeded to crack down on opposition.
39
Starting shortly after independence, the country was plagued from 1977 to 1992 by a long and violent civil war between the opposition forces of anti-communist Mozambican National Resistance (
RENAMO
) rebel militias and the FRELIMO regime. This conflict characterised the first decades of Mozambican independence, combined with sabotage from the neighbouring states of
Rhodesia
and South Africa, ineffective policies, failed central planning, and the resulting economic collapse. This period was also marked by the exodus of Portuguese nationals and Mozambicans of Portuguese heritage,
40
a collapsed infrastructure, lack of investment in productive assets, and government nationalisation of privately owned industries, as well as widespread famine.
During most of the civil war, the FRELIMO-formed central government was unable to exercise effective control outside urban areas, many of which were cut off from the capital.
20
RENAMO-controlled areas included up to 50% of the rural areas in several provinces, and it is reported that health services of any kind were isolated from assistance for years in those areas. The problem worsened when the government cut back spending on health care.
41
The war was marked by mass human rights violations from both sides of the conflict, with both RENAMO and FRELIMO contributing to the chaos through the use of terror and indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
42
43
The central government executed tens of thousands of people while trying to extend its control throughout the country and sent many people to "re-education camps" where thousands died.
42
The geopolitical situation in 1975; nations friendly to the FRELIMO are shown in orange.
During the war, RENAMO proposed a peace agreement based on the secession of RENAMO-controlled northern and western territories as the independent
Republic of Rombesia
, but FRELIMO refused, insisting on the undivided sovereignty of the entire country. An estimated one million Mozambicans perished during the civil war, 1.7 million took refuge in neighbouring states, and several million more were internally displaced.
44
The FRELIMO regime also gave shelter and support to South African (
African National Congress
) and Zimbabwean (
Zimbabwe African National Union
) rebel movements, while the governments of Rhodesia and later Apartheid South Africa backed RENAMO in the civil war.
20
Between 300,000 and 600,000 people died of famine during the war.
45
On 19 October 1986, Machel was on his way back from an international meeting in Zambia when his
plane crashed
in the
Lebombo Mountains
near
Mbuzini
in South Africa. President Machel and thirty-three others died, including ministers and officials of the Mozambique government. The Soviet delegation within the United Nations'
Special Investigation Commission (the Margo Commission) issued a minority report contending that the Soviets' expertise and experience had been undermined by the South Africans. Representatives of the Soviet Union advanced the theory that the plane had been intentionally diverted by a false
navigational beacon
signal, using a technology provided by military intelligence operatives of the South African government.
46
Machel's successor
Joaquim Chissano
implemented sweeping changes in the country, starting reforms such as changing from Marxism to capitalism and began peace talks with RENAMO. The new constitution, enacted in 1990, provided for a
multi-party political system
, a
market-based economy
, and free elections. That same year, Mozambique abolished the people's republic as the country's official name. The civil war ended in October 1992 with the
Rome General Peace Accords
, first brokered by the Christian Council of Mozambique (Council of Protestant Churches) and then taken over by the Catholic social service association
Community of Sant'Egidio
. Peace returned to Mozambique, under the supervision of the
peacekeeping force of the United Nations
47
20
Democratic era (1993–present)
edit
Mozambique has held elections since 1994 as part of the peace accords negotiated with RENAMO to end the
civil war
fought from 1977 to 1992. While the first elections were accepted by most political parties as free and fair, growing evidence shows that all subsequent elections since 1999 have been fraudulent.
48
49
. Electoral rigging is done by the state apparatus.
50
Political opponents are regularly assassinated and imprisoned.
51
US helicopter
flying over the flooded
Limpopo River
during the
2000 Mozambique flood
In the 1994 elections, FRELIMO won, under Joaquim Chissano, while RENAMO, led by
Afonso Dhlakama
, ran as the official opposition.
52
53
In 1995, Mozambique joined the
Commonwealth of Nations
, becoming, at the time, the only member nation that had never been part of the
British Empire
54
By mid-1995, over 1.7 million refugees who had sought asylum in neighbouring countries had returned to Mozambique, part of the largest repatriation witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa. An additional four million
internally displaced persons
had returned to their homes.
20
In December 1999, Mozambique held elections for a second time since the civil war, which were again won by FRELIMO. RENAMO accused FRELIMO of fraud and threatened to return to civil war but backed down after taking the matter to the Supreme Court and losing.
55
56
In early 2000, a cyclone caused
widespread flooding
, killing hundreds and devastating the already precarious infrastructure.
57
There were widespread suspicions that foreign aid resources had been diverted by the powerful leaders of FRELIMO.
Carlos Cardoso
, a journalist investigating these allegations, was murdered,
58
59
and his death was never satisfactorily explained.
60
Indicating in 2001 that he would not run for a third term,
61
Chissano criticised leaders who stayed on longer than he had, which was generally seen as a reference to Zambian President
Frederick Chiluba
and Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe
62
Presidential and National Assembly elections took place on 1–2 December 2004. FRELIMO candidate
Armando Guebuza
won
63
with 64% of the popular vote, and Dhlakama received 32% of the popular vote. FRELIMO won 160 seats in Parliament, with a coalition of RENAMO and several small parties winning the 90 remaining seats. Guebuza was inaugurated as the President of Mozambique on 2 February 2005
64
and served two five-year terms. His successor,
Filipe Nyusi
, became the fourth President of Mozambique on 15 January 2015.
65
66
From 2013 to 2019, a low-intensity
insurgency by RENAMO
occurred, mainly in the country's central and northern regions. On 5 September 2014, Guebuza and Dhlakama signed the Accord on Cessation of Hostilities, which brought the military hostilities to a halt and allowed both parties to concentrate on the general elections to be held in October 2014. However, after the general elections, a new political crisis emerged. RENAMO did not recognise the validity of the election results and demanded the control of six provinces – Nampula, Niassa, Tete, Zambezia, Sofala, and Manica – where they claimed to have won a majority.
67
In this new violent conflict, in the period 2013–16, about 12,000 refugees fled to neighboring
Malawi
68
while this time, according to the
UNHCR
Doctors Without Borders
, and
Human Rights Watch
, government forces have been the chief aggressors, contrary to the state-owned media's blaming of the Renamo rebels for it: government forces were reported to have torched villages and carried out
summary executions
and
sexual abuses
69
In October 2019, President Filipe Nyusi was re-elected after a landslide victory in
general election
. FRELIMO won 184 seats, RENAMO got 60 seats and the MDM party received the remaining 6 seats in the National Assembly. The opposition did not accept the results because of allegations of fraud and irregularities. FRELIMO secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, which allowed FRELIMO to re-adjust the constitution without needing the agreement of the opposition.
70
Since 2017, the country has faced an
ongoing insurgency by Islamist groups
71
72
73
In September 2020,
Islamic State
insurgents captured and briefly occupied
Vamizi Island
in the Indian Ocean.
74
75
In March 2021, dozens of civilians were killed and 35,000 others were displaced after
Islamist rebels seized
the city of
Palma
76
77
In December 2021, nearly 4,000 Mozambicans fled their villages after an intensification of jihadist attacks in
Niassa
78
On 15 January 2025,
Daniel Chapo
was sworn in as Mozambique's fifth president.
79
He had won the
election
as the candidate of the ruling FRELIMO party, although the result was rejected by the opposition.
80
Geography
edit
Main article:
Geography of Mozambique
Satellite image
Traditional wooden fishing boat on the sandy shoreline of Bazaruto Island, Mozambique.
Rainstorm at a beach lodge in Mozambique
At 309,475 sq mi (801,537 km
), Mozambique is the world's 35th-largest country. Mozambique is located on the southeast coast of
Africa
and is bound by
Eswatini
to the south,
South Africa
to the southwest,
Zimbabwe
to the west,
Zambia
and
Malawi
to the northwest,
Tanzania
to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east. Mozambique lies between latitudes
10°
and
27°S
, and longitudes
30°
and
41°E
The country is divided into two topographical regions by the
Zambezi River
. To the north of the Zambezi, the narrow coastal strip gives way to inland hills and low plateaus. Rugged highlands are further west; they include the Niassa highlands,
Namuli
or Shire highlands, Angonia highlands, Tete highlands and the Makonde plateau, covered with
miombo
woodlands. To the south of the Zambezi, the lowlands are broader with the Mashonaland plateau and
Lebombo Mountains
located in the deep south.
The country is drained by five principal rivers and several smaller ones, the Zambezi River being the largest and most important. The country has four notable lakes:
Lake Niassa
(or Malawi),
Lake Chiuta
Cahora Bassa
and
Lake Shirwa
, all in the north. The major cities are
Maputo
Beira
Nampula
Tete
Quelimane
Chimoio
Pemba
Inhambane
Xai-Xai
and
Lichinga
Climate
edit
Main articles:
Climate of Mozambique
and
Climate change in Mozambique
Mozambique map of Köppen climate classification zones
Mozambique has a tropical climate with two seasons: a
wet season
from October to March and a
dry season
from April to September. Climatic conditions, however, vary depending on altitude. Rainfall is heavy along the coast and decreases in the north and south. Annual precipitation varies from 500 to 900 mm (19.7 to 35.4 in) depending on the region, with an average of 590 mm (23.2 in). Cyclones are common during the wet season. Average temperature ranges in Maputo are from 13 to 24 °C (55.4 to 75.2 °F) in July and from 22 to 31 °C (71.6 to 87.8 °F) in February.
81
In 2019, Mozambique suffered floods and destruction from the devastating cyclones
Idai
and
Kenneth
, the first time two cyclones had struck the nation in a single season.
82
In February and March 2023,
Tropical Cyclone Freddy
hit Mozambique twice before dissipating. The resulting flooding caused significant infrastructure damage, with more than 22,000 houses affected, 60 health units flooded, and 1,265 km of roads damaged. Tens of thousands of hectares of crops were also affected during the flooding.
83
84
85
Wildlife
edit
Main article:
Wildlife of Mozambique
See also:
Category:Flora of Mozambique
List of marine molluscs of Mozambique
, and
List of non-marine molluscs of Mozambique
There are known to be
740 bird species
in Mozambique, including 20 globally threatened species and two introduced species, and
over 200 mammal species
endemic to Mozambique, including the critically endangered
Selous' zebra
Vincent's bush squirrel
and 13 other endangered or vulnerable species.
Protected areas
include thirteen forest reserves, seven national parks, six nature reserves, three frontier conservation areas and three wildlife or game reserves.
Government and politics
edit
Main article:
Politics of Mozambique
Former President
Filipe Nyusi
Maputo City Hall
The
Constitution of Mozambique
stipulates that the
President of the Republic
functions as the head of state, head of government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and as a symbol of national unity.
86
They are
directly elected
for a five-year term via run-off voting. The
prime minister
is appointed by the president. Their functions include convening and chairing the council of ministers (cabinet), advising the president, assisting the president in governing the country, and coordinating the functions of the other ministers.
The
Assembly of the Republic
has 250 members, each elected for five-year terms by
proportional representation
. The judiciary comprises a Supreme Court and provincial, district, and municipal courts.
Mozambique operates a small, functioning military that handles all aspects of domestic national defence, the
Mozambique Defence Armed Forces
Administrative divisions
edit
Main articles:
Subdivisions of Mozambique
Provinces of Mozambique
Districts of Mozambique
, and
Postos of Mozambique
Mozambique is divided into ten provinces (
provincias
) and one capital city (
cidade capital
) with provincial status. The provinces are subdivided into 129 districts (
distritos
). The districts are further divided into 405 "
postos administrativos
" (administrative posts, headed by
secretários
) and then into
localidades
(localities), the lowest geographical level of the central state administration. There are 53 "
municípios
" (municipalities).
citation needed
Niassa
Cabo Delgado
Nampula
Tete
Zambezia
Manica
Sofala
Gaza
Inhambane
Maputo
(city)
Maputo
Foreign relations
edit
Main article:
Foreign relations of Mozambique
Mozambique's embassy in Washington, D.C.
While allegiances dating back to the liberation struggle remain relevant, Mozambique's foreign policy has become increasingly pragmatic. The twin pillars of Mozambique's foreign policy are maintenance of good relations with its neighbours
87
and maintenance and expansion of ties to development partners.
20
During the 1970s and the early 1980s, Mozambique's foreign policy was inextricably linked to the struggles for majority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa as well as superpower competition and the
Cold War
88
Mozambique's decision to enforce UN sanctions against Rhodesia and deny that country access to the sea led
Ian Smith
's government to undertake overt and covert actions to oppose the country. Although the change of government in Zimbabwe in 1980 removed this threat, the government of South Africa continued to destabilise Mozambique.
20
Mozambique also belonged to the
Frontline States
89
The 1984
Nkomati Accord
, while failing in its goal of ending South African support to RENAMO, opened initial diplomatic contacts between the Mozambican and South African governments. This process gained momentum with South Africa's elimination of
apartheid
, which culminated in the establishment of full diplomatic relations in October 1993. While relations with neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania show occasional strains, Mozambique's ties to these countries remain strong.
20
In the years immediately following its independence, Mozambique benefited from considerable assistance from European countries. The Soviet Union and its allies became Mozambique's primary economic, military and political supporters, and its foreign policy reflected this linkage. This began to change in 1983; in 1984, Mozambique joined the
World Bank
and
International Monetary Fund
. Western aid by the Scandinavian countries of
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
and
Iceland
quickly replaced Soviet support.
20
Finland
90
and the
Netherlands
are becoming increasingly important sources of development assistance. Italy also maintains a profile in Mozambique as a result of its key role during the peace process. Relations with Portugal, the former colonial power, continue to be important because Portuguese investors play a visible role in Mozambique's economy.
20
Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
meets members of
Indian community in Mozambique
, 7 July 2016.
Mozambique is a member of the
Non-Aligned Movement
and ranks among the moderate members of the African bloc in the United Nations and other international organisations. Mozambique also belongs to the
African Union
and the
Southern African Development Community
. In 1994, the government became a full member of the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
, in part to broaden its base of international support but also to please the country's sizeable Muslim population. Similarly, in 1995 Mozambique joined its Anglophone neighbours in the
Commonwealth of Nations
. At the time it was the only nation to have joined the Commonwealth that was never part of the
British Empire
. In the same year, Mozambique became a founding member and the first president of the
Community of Portuguese Language Countries
and maintains close ties with other Portuguese-speaking countries.
20
Human rights
edit
Main article:
Human rights in Mozambique
See also:
Human trafficking in Mozambique
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2015.
91
However, discrimination against
LGBT people
in Mozambique is widespread.
92
Economy
edit
Main article:
Economy of Mozambique
Historical development of real GDP per capita in Mozambique, since 1960
Mozambique is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world, even though between 1994 and 2006 its average annual GDP growth was approximately 8%. Since 2014/15, household real consumption has decreased significantly and a sharp rise in
economic inequality
has been observed.
13
The
IMF
classifies Mozambique as a
heavily indebted poor country
. In a 2006 survey, three-quarters of Mozambicans said that in the past five years their economic position had remained the same or become worse.
93
Mozambique's official currency is the
metical
(in October 2023, US$1 was roughly equivalent to 64 meticals). The
U.S. dollar
South African rand
, and the
euro
are widely accepted and used in business transactions. The minimum legal salary is around US$60 per month. Mozambique is a member of the
Southern African Development Community
(SADC).
20
The SADC
free trade
protocol is aimed at making the Southern African region more competitive by eliminating
tariffs
and other
trade barriers
. The
World Bank
in 2007 talked of Mozambique's 'blistering pace of economic growth'. A joint donor-government study in early 2007 said 'Mozambique is generally considered an aid success story.'
94
Rebounding growth
edit
The resettlement of civil war refugees and successful economic reform have led to a high growth rate: the country enjoyed a remarkable recovery, achieving an average annual rate of economic growth of 8% between 1996 and 2006
95
and between 6–7% from 2006 to 2011.
96
Rapid expansion in the future hinges on several major foreign investment projects, continued economic reform, and the revival of the agriculture, transportation, and tourism sectors.
20
In 2013, about 80% of the population was employed in agriculture, the majority of whom were engaged in small-scale subsistence farming
97
, which still suffered from inadequate infrastructure, commercial networks, and investment.
20
However, in 2012, more than 90% of Mozambique's arable land was still
uncultivated
In 2013, a BBC article reported that starting in 2009, there was increased Portuguese immigration to Mozambique due to the poor economic situation in Portugal.
98
Economic reforms
edit
More than 1,200 mostly small
state-owned enterprises
have been
privatised
. Preparations for privatisation and/or sector liberalisation were made for the remaining parastatal enterprises, including telecommunications, energy, ports, and railways. The government frequently selected a strategic foreign investor when privatising a parastatal. Additionally, customs duties have been reduced, and customs management has been streamlined and reformed. The government introduced a value-added tax in 1999 as part of its efforts to increase domestic revenues.
Corruption
edit
Traditional sailboat in
Ilha de Moçambique
Mozambique's economy has been shaken by numerous corruption scandals. In July 2011, the government proposed new anti-corruption laws to criminalise embezzlement, influence peddling and
graft
, following numerous instances of the theft of public money. This has been endorsed by the country's Council of Ministers. Mozambique convicted two former ministers for graft.
99
Mozambique was ranked 116 of 178 countries in anti-graft watchdog
Transparency International
's index of global corruption. According to a USAID report written in 2005, "the scale and scope of corruption in Mozambique are cause for alarm."
100
In 2012, the government of
Inhambane province
uncovered the misappropriation of public funds by the director of the Provincial Anti-Drugs Office, Calisto Alberto Tomo. He was found to have colluded with the accountant in the Anti-Drugs Office, Recalda Guambe, to steal over 260,000 meticais between 2008 and 2010.
101
The government of Mozambique has taken steps to address the problem of corruption, and some positive developments can be observed, such as the passages of several anti-corruption bills in 2012.
102
Natural resources
edit
Main article:
Mineral industry of Mozambique
In 2010–2011,
Anadarko Petroleum
and
Eni
discovered the
Mamba South gas field
, with estimated reserves of 4,200 billion cubic metres (150 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas in the
Rovuma
Basin, off the coast of northern
Cabo Delgado Province
. Once developed, this could make Mozambique one of the largest producers of
liquefied natural gas
in the world. In January 2017, 3 firms were selected by the government for the natural gas development projects in the Rovuma gas basin. GL Africa Energy (UK) was awarded one of the tenders. It plans to build and operate a 250 MW gas-powered plant.
103
104
Production was scheduled to start in 2018.
105
Mozambique is now scheduled to begin exporting LNG globally in 2024. In 2019, developments in the Rovuma Basin, referred to as The Mozambique LNG Project, raised $19 billion from a consortium of investors to finally bring this LNG to market. The majority of the project and its associated operations have been awarded to the company, TotalEnergies.
106
Tourism
edit
Main article:
Tourism in Mozambique
European tourists on the beach, in
Inhambane
, Mozambique
The country's natural environment, wildlife, and historic heritage provide opportunities for beach, cultural, and
eco-tourism
107
Mozambique has a great potential for growth in its gross domestic product (GDP).
108
The north beaches with clean water are suitable for tourism,
original research?
especially those that are very far from urban centres, such the
Quirimbas Islands
and the
Bazaruto archipelago
109
The Inhambane Province attracts international divers because of the marine biodiversity and the presence of
whale sharks
and
manta rays
110
There are several national parks, including
Gorongosa National Park
111
Transport
edit
Main articles:
Transport in Mozambique
and
Rail transport in Mozambique
Steam locomotive (
Porter
2-6-2 N° 572) at
Inhambane
, 2009
The national Mozambican airline,
LAM Mozambique
There are over 30,000 km (19,000 mi) of roads, but much of the network is unpaved. Like its
Commonwealth
neighbours,
traffic circulates on the left
, in spite of not having been colonised by the British. There is an international airport at Maputo, 21 other paved airports, and over 100 airstrips with unpaved runways. There are 3,750 km of
navigable
inland waterways. There are rail links serving principal cities and connecting the country with Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Mozambican railway system developed over more than a century from three different ports on the coast that served as terminals for separate lines to the hinterland. The railroads were major targets during the Mozambican Civil War, were sabotaged by RENAMO, and are being rehabilitated. A
parastatal
authority,
Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique
(Mozambique Ports and Railways), oversees the railway system and its connected ports, but management has been largely outsourced. Each line has its own development corridor.
As of 2005
[update]
there were 3,123 km of railway track, consisting of 2,983 km of
1,067 mm
3 ft 6 in
) gauge, compatible with neighbouring rail systems, and a 140 km line of
762 mm
2 ft 6 in
) gauge, the
Gaza Railway
112
The central
Beira–Bulawayo railway
and
Sena railway
route links the
port of Beira
to the landlocked countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. To the north of this the
port of Nacala
is also linked by
Nacala rail
to Malawi, and to the south the
port of Maputo
is connected by the
Limpopo rail
, the
Goba rail
and the
Ressano Garcia rail
to Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa. These networks interconnect only via neighbouring countries. A new route for coal haulage between Tete and Beira was planned to come into service by 2010,
113
and in August 2010, Mozambique and
Botswana
signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 1,100 km railway through Zimbabwe, to carry coal from
Serule
in Botswana to a deepwater port at
Techobanine
Point.
114
Newer rolling stock has been supplied by the Indian
Golden Rock
workshop
115
using
Centre Buffer Couplers
116
and
air brakes
Water supply and sanitation
edit
Woman fetching water during the dry season from a polluted source in Machaze District of the Central Manica Province
Water supply and sanitation in Mozambique
is characterised by low levels of access to an
improved water source
(estimated to be 51% in 2011), low levels of access to adequate sanitation (estimated to be 25% in 2011) and mostly poor service quality. In 2007 the government defined a strategy for water supply and sanitation in rural areas, where 62% of the population lives. In urban areas, water is supplied by informal small-scale providers and by formal providers.
Beginning in 1998, Mozambique reformed the formal part of the urban water supply sector through the creation of an independent regulatory agency called CRA, an asset-holding company called FIPAG and a
public-private partnership
(PPP) with a company called Aguas de Moçambique.
117
The PPP covered those areas of the capital and of four other cities that had access to formal water supply systems. However, the PPP ended when the management contracts for four cities expired in 2008 and when the foreign partner of the company that serves the capital under a lease contract withdrew in 2010, claiming heavy losses. While urban water supply has received considerable policy attention, the government has no strategy for urban sanitation yet. External donors finance about 87.4% of all public investments in the sector.
Demographics
edit
Main article:
Demographics of Mozambique
The north-central provinces of Zambezia and Nampula are the most populous, with about 45% of the population. The estimated four million
Makua
are the dominant group in the northern part of the country; the
Sena
and
Shona
(mostly
Ndau
and
Manyika
) are prominent in the Zambezi valley,
20
and the
Tsonga
people dominate southern Mozambique. Other groups include
Makonde
Yao
Swahili
Tonga
Chopi
, and
Nguni
(including
Zulu
).
Bantu
people comprise 97.8% of the population, with the rest made up of
Portuguese
ancestry, Euro-Africans (
mestiço
people of mixed Bantu and Portuguese ancestry), and Indians.
15
Roughly 45,000 people of
Indian descent
reside in Mozambique.
118
During Portuguese colonial rule, a large minority of people of Portuguese descent lived permanently in almost all areas of the country,
119
and Mozambicans with
Portuguese heritage
at the time of independence numbered about 360,000.
120
Many of these left the country after independence from Portugal in 1975.
121
There are various estimates for the size of
Mozambique's Chinese community
, ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 as of 2007
[update]
122
123
According to a 2011 survey, the total fertility rate was 5.9 children per woman, with 6.6 in rural areas and 4.5 in urban areas.
124
Largest cities
edit
Largest cities or towns in Mozambique
According to the 2017 Census
125
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Rank
Name
Province
Pop.
Maputo
Maputo
1,080,277
11
Gurúè
Zambézia
210,000
Matola
Maputo
1,032,197
12
Pemba
Cabo Delgado
201,846
Nampula
Nampula
663,212
13
Xai-Xai
Gaza
132,884
Beira
Sofala
592,090
14
Maxixe
Inhambane
123,868
Chimoio
Manica
363,336
15
Angoche
Nampula
89,998
Tete
Tete
307,338
16
Inhambane
Inhambane
82,119
Quelimane
Zambézia
246,915
17
Cuamba
Niassa
79,013
Lichinga
Niassa
242,204
18
Montepuez
Cabo Delgado
76,139
Mocuba
Zambézia
240,000
19
Dondo
Sofala
70,817
10
Nacala
Nampula
225,034
20
Moçambique
Nampula
65,712
Languages
edit
Main article:
Languages of Mozambique
Ethnic map of Mozambique
Portuguese is the official and most widely spoken language of the nation, spoken by 50.3% of the population.
126
Additionally, around 50% of Maputo speaks Portuguese as a native language.
127
The
Bantu languages
that are indigenous to the country vary greatly in their groupings and in some cases are rather poorly appreciated and documented.
128
Apart from its lingua franca uses in the north of the country,
Swahili
is spoken in a small area of the coast next to the Tanzanian border; south of this, towards Moçambique Island,
Kimwani
, regarded as a dialect of Swahili, is used. Immediately inland of the Swahili area,
Makonde
is used, separated farther inland by a small strip of
Makhuwa
-speaking territory from an area where
Yao
or ChiYao is used. Makonde and Yao belong to a different group, Yao
129
being very close to the
Mwera language
of the
Rondo Plateau
area in Tanzania.
130
Prepositions appear in these languages as locative prefixes prefixed to the noun and declined according to their own noun-class. Some
Nyanja
is used at the coast of Lake Malawi, as well as on the other side of the Lake.
131
132
Somewhat different from all of these are the languages of the eMakhuwa group, with a loss of initial k-, which means that many nouns begin with a vowel: for example,
epula
= "rain".
128
There is eMakhuwa proper, with the related
eLomwe
and
eChuwabo
, with a small
eKoti
-speaking area at the coast. In an area straddling the lower Zambezi,
Sena
, which belongs to the same group as Nyanja, is spoken, with areas speaking the related CiNyungwe and CiSenga further upriver.
A large
Shona
-speaking area extends between the Zimbabwe border and the sea: this was formerly known as the Ndau variety
133
but now uses the orthography of the Standard Shona of Zimbabwe. Apparently similar to Shona, but lacking the tone patterns of the Shona language, and regarded by its speakers as quite separate, is CiBalke, also called Rue or Barwe, used in a small area near the Zimbabwe border. South of this area are languages of the
Tsonga
group. XiTswa or
Tswa
occurs at the coast and inland, XiTsonga or Tsonga straddles the area around the Limpopo River, including such local dialects as XiHlanganu, XiN'walungu, XiBila, XiHlengwe, and XiDzonga. This language area extends into neighbouring South Africa. Still related to these, but distinct, are GiTonga, BiTonga, and CiCopi or
Chopi
, spoken north of the mouth of the Limpopo, and XiRonga or
Ronga
, spoken in the immediate region around Maputo. The languages in this group are, judging by the short vocabularies,
128
very vaguely similar to Zulu, but obviously not in the same immediate group. There are small Swazi- and Zulu-speaking areas in Mozambique immediately next to the Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal borders.
Religion
edit
Main article:
Religion in Mozambique
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Maputo
A mosque in downtown Maputo
The 2007 census found that Christians made up 59.2% of Mozambique's population, Muslims comprised 18.9% of the population, 7.3% of the people held other beliefs, mainly
animism
, and 13.9% had no religious beliefs.
15
134
A more recent government survey conducted by the
Demographic and Health Surveys
program in 2015 indicated that Catholicism had increased to 30.5% of the population, Muslims constituted 19.3%, and various Protestant groups a total of 44%.
135
According to 2018 estimates from the
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
, 28% of the population is Catholic, 18% are Muslim (mostly Sunni), 15% are
Zionist Christians
, 12% are Protestants, 7% are members of other religious groups, and 18% have no religion.
136
The Catholic Church has established twelve dioceses (Beira, Chimoio, Gurué, Inhambane, Lichinga, Maputo, Nacala, Nampula, Pemba, Quelimane, Tete,
137
and Xai-Xai; archdioceses are
Beira
Maputo
and
Nampula
). Statistics for the dioceses range from a low 5.8% Catholics in the population in the
Diocese of Chimoio
, to 32.50% in Quelimane diocese (Anuario catolico de Mocambique). Among the main Protestant denominations are
Igreja União Baptista de Moçambique
, the
Assembleias de Deus
, the
Seventh-day Adventists
, the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa
, the Igreja do Evangelho Completo de Deus, the
Igreja Metodista Unida
, the
Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique
, the
Igrejas de Cristo
and the Assembleia Evangélica de Deus. The work of Methodism in Mozambique started in 1890. Erwin Richards began a Methodist mission at Chicuque in Inhambane Province. The Igreja Metodista Unida em Moçambique (United Methodist Church in Mozambique) observed the 100th anniversary of Methodist presence in Mozambique in 1990. President Chissano praised the work and role of the UMC to more than 10,000 people who attended the ceremony. The United Methodist Church has tripled in size in Mozambique since 1998. There are more than 150,000 members in more than 180 congregations of the 24 districts. New pastors are ordained each year. New churches are chartered each year in each Annual Conference (north and south).
138
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has established a growing presence. It first began sending missionaries to Mozambique in 1999, and, as of April 2015, has more than 7,943 members.
139
The
Baháʼí Faith
has been present in Mozambique since the early 1950s but did not openly identify itself in those years because of the strong influence of the Catholic Church which did not recognise it officially as a world religion. The independence in 1975 saw the entrance of new pioneers. In total, there are about 3,000 declared Baháʼís as of 2010
[update]
. Muslims are particularly present in the north of the country. They are organised in several "
tariqa
" or
brotherhoods
. Two national organisations also exist—the
Conselho Islâmico de Moçambique
and the
Congresso Islâmico de Moçambique
. There are also important Pakistani, Indian associations as well as some Shia communities. There is a very small but thriving Jewish community in Maputo.
140
Health
edit
Further information:
Health in Mozambique
This section needs to be
updated
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
October 2025
The increase in the number of HIV positive Mozambicans on
Antiretroviral treatment
, 2003–14
The fertility rate is at about 5.5 births per woman. Public expenditure on health was at 2.7% of the GDP in 2004, whereas private expenditure on health was at 1.3% in the same year. Health expenditure per capita was 42 US$ (PPP) in 2004. In the early 21st century there were 3 physicians per 100,000 people in the country.
Infant mortality
was at 100 per 1,000 births in 2005.
141
The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Mozambique is 550. This is compared with 598.8 in 2008 and 385 in 1990. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 147 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5s mortality is 29. In Mozambique the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 3 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women 1 in 37.
142
The official
HIV prevalence
in 2011 was 11.5% of the population aged between 15 and 49 years. In the southern parts of Mozambique—Maputo and Gaza provinces, as well as the city of Maputo—the official figures are more than twice as high as the national average. In 2011, the health authorities estimated about 1.7 million Mozambicans were HIV-positive, of whom 600,000 were in need of anti-retroviral treatment. As of December 2011, 240,000 were receiving such treatment, increasing to 416,000 in March 2014, according to the health authorities.
Mozambique has been experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity for years.
143
Education
edit
Main article:
Education in Mozambique
Portuguese is the primary language of instruction in all Mozambican schools. All Mozambicans are required by law to attend school through the primary level; however, a lot of children do not go to primary school because they have to work for their families' subsistence farms for a living. In 2007, one million children still did not go to school, most of them from poor rural families, and almost half of all teachers were unqualified. Girls enrollment increased from 3 million in 2002 to 4.1 million in 2006 while the completion rate increased from 31,000 to 90,000, which testified a very poor completion rate.
144
Students in front of their school in
Nampula
, Mozambique
After grade 7, pupils must take standardised national exams to enter secondary school, which runs from eighth to 10th grade.
145
Space in Mozambican universities is extremely limited; thus, most pupils who complete pre-university school do not immediately proceed on to university studies. Many go to work as teachers or are unemployed. There are also institutes that give more vocational training, specialising in agricultural, technical or pedagogical studies, which students may attend after grade 10 in lieu of a pre-university school. After independence from Portugal in 1975, a number of Mozambican pupils continued to be admitted every year at Portuguese high schools, polytechnical institutes and universities, through bilateral agreements between the Portuguese government and the Mozambican government.
According to 2010 estimates, the
literacy rate
was 56.1% (70.8% male and 42.8% female).
146
By 2015, this had increased to 58.8% (73.3% male and 45.4% female).
147
Culture
edit
Main article:
Culture of Mozambique
Woman with traditional mask in Mozambique
Island of Mozambique
, 2016
Mozambique was ruled by Portugal, and they share a main language (Portuguese) and main religion (Roman Catholicism). But since most of the people of Mozambique are Bantus, most of the culture is native; for Bantus living in urban areas, there is some Portuguese influence. Mozambican culture also influences the
Portuguese culture
Arts
edit
The
Makonde
are known for their wood carving and elaborate masks, which are commonly used in traditional dances. There are two different kinds of wood carvings:
shetani
, (evil spirits), which are mostly carved in heavy
ebony
, tall, and elegantly curved with symbols and nonrepresentational faces; and
ujamaa
, which are totem-type carvings which illustrate lifelike faces of people and various figures. These sculptures are usually referred to as "family trees" because they tell stories of many generations.
During the last years of the colonial period, Mozambican art reflected the oppression by the colonial power and became a symbol of resistance. After independence in 1975, modern art came into a new phase. The two best known and most influential contemporary Mozambican artists are the painter
Malangatana Ngwenya
and the sculptor
Alberto Chissano
. A lot of the post-independence art during the 1980s and 1990s reflects the political struggle, civil war, suffering, and starvation.
Dances are usually intricate, highly developed traditions throughout Mozambique. There are many different kinds of dances from tribe to tribe, which are usually ritualistic in nature. The Chopi, for instance, act out battles dressed in animal skins. The men of Makua dress in colourful outfits and masks while dancing on stilts around the village for hours. Groups of women in the northern part of the country perform a traditional dance called
tufo
, to celebrate Islamic holidays.
148
Dancers on
Mozambique Island
Music
edit
Main article:
Music of Mozambique
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does not
cite
any
sources
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improve this section
by
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. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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The
music of Mozambique
serves many purposes, ranging from religious expression to traditional ceremonies. Musical instruments are usually handmade. Some of the instruments used in Mozambican musical expression include drums made of wood and animal skin; the
lupembe
, a woodwind instrument made from animal horns or wood; and the
marimba
, which is a kind of xylophone native to Mozambique and other parts of Africa. The marimba is a popular instrument with the Chopi of the south-central coast, who are famous for their musical skill and dance.
Media
edit
Headquarters of Rádio Moçambique in
KaMpfumo
district of
Maputo
(photo 2009)
Mozambican media
is heavily influenced by the government.
149
Newspapers have relatively low circulation rates because of high newspaper prices and low
literacy rates
149
Among the most highly circulated newspapers are state-controlled dailies, such as
Noticias
and
Diário de Moçambique
, and the weekly
Domingo
150
Their circulation is mostly confined to Maputo.
151
Most funding and advertising revenue is given to pro-government newspapers.
149
Radio programmes are the most influential form of media in the country because of ease of access.
149
State-owned radio stations are more popular than privately owned media. This is exemplified by the government radio station, Rádio Moçambique, the most popular station in the country.
149
It was established shortly after Mozambique's independence.
152
The television stations watched by Mozambicans are STV, TIM, and
TVM
. Through cable and satellite, viewers can access tens of other African, Asian, Brazilian, and European channels.
citation needed
Cuisine
edit
Main article:
Cuisine of Mozambique
See also:
Portuguese cuisine
and
African cuisine
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does not
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any
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adding citations to reliable sources
. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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Caril de amendoim
, a Mozambican peanut curry
Photo of chicken piri piri
With a nearly 500-year presence in the country, the Portuguese have greatly influenced Mozambique's cuisine. Staples and crops such as
cassava
(a starchy root of Brazilian origin) and
cashew
nuts (also of Brazilian origin, though Mozambique was once the largest producer of these nuts), and
pãozinho
(pronounced
[pɐ̃wˈzĩɲu]
, Portuguese-style buns), were brought in by the Portuguese. The use of spices and seasonings such as
bay leaves
chili peppers
, fresh
coriander
, garlic, onions,
paprika
, red sweet peppers, and wine were introduced by the Portuguese, as were maize, potatoes, rice, and
sugarcane
espetada
, the popular
inteiro com piripiri
(whole chicken in
piri-piri
sauce),
prego
(steak roll),
pudim
(pudding), and
rissóis
(battered shrimp) are all Portuguese dishes commonly eaten in present-day Mozambique.
National holidays
edit
Further information:
Public holidays in Mozambique
Date
National holiday designation
Notes
1 January
Universal fraternity day
New year
3 February
Mozambican heroes day
In tribute to
Eduardo Mondlane
7 April
Mozambican women day
In tribute to
Josina Machel
1 May
International workers day
Workers' Day
25 June
National Independence day
Independence proclamation in 1975 (from Portugal)
7 September
Victory Day
In tribute to the
Lusaka Accord
signed in 1974
25 September
National Liberation Armed Forces Day
In tribute to the
start of the armed fight for national liberation
4 October
Peace and Reconciliation
In tribute to the General Peace Agreement signed in Rome in 1992
25 December
Family Day
Christians also celebrate Christmas
Sport
edit
Main article:
List of football stadiums in Mozambique
Football
Portuguese
futebol
) is the most popular sport in Mozambique. The national team is the
Mozambique national football team
. Track and field and basketball are also avidly followed in the country.
153
Roller hockey
is popular, and the best result for the national team was when they came in fourth at the
2011 FIRS Roller Hockey World Cup
. The women's beach volleyball team finished 2nd at the
2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
154
The
Mozambique national cricket team
represents the nation in
international cricket
See also
edit
Africa portal
Outline of Mozambique
List of Mozambique-related topics
Notes
edit
Includes
Makhuwa
Tsonga
Lomwe
Sena
, and other African ethnic groups.
Includes those of Asian descent
Includes
Traditional faiths
, Judaism,
Hinduism
, and
Baha'i
oʊ
iː
Portuguese
Moçambique
pronounced
[musɐ̃ˈbikɨ]
Chichewa
Mozambiki
Tsonga
Muzambhiki
Swahili
Msumbiji
República de Moçambique
pronounced
[ʁɛˈpuβlikɐ
ðɨ
musɐ̃ˈbikɨ]
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. Hdrstats.undp.org. Archived from
the original
on 30 January 2010
. Retrieved
2 May
2010
"The State of the World's Midwifery"
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the original
on 25 December 2011
. Retrieved
1 August
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"Global Hunger Index Scores by 2024 GHI Rank"
Global Hunger Index (GHI) – peer-reviewed annual publication designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels
. Retrieved
25 December
2024
Key facts
Archived
9 January 2009 at the
Wayback Machine
, Department for International Development (DFID), UK Government (24 May 2007)
UNESCO (Sept 2010)
World Data on Education
Archived
19 January 2022 at the
Wayback Machine
. 7th ed.
"The World Factbook"
cia.gov
. Archived from
the original
on 10 January 2021
. Retrieved
16 May
2007
UIS.
"Education"
. UNESCO. Archived from
the original
on 5 September 2017
. Retrieved
2 March
2018
Fitzpatrick, Mary (2007).
Mozambique
Lonely Planet
. p. 33.
ISBN
978-1-74059-188-1
Archived
from the original on 5 September 2015
. Retrieved
20 June
2015
Salgado, Susana (2014).
The Internet and Democracy Building in Lusophone African Countries
. Ashgate. p. 79.
ISBN
978-1-4094-7293-3
Archived
from the original on 4 September 2015
. Retrieved
15 July
2015
Matsimbe, Zefanias (2009).
"Ch. 9: Mozambique"
. In Denis Kadima and Susan Booysen (ed.).
Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa 1989–2009: 20 Years of Multiparty Democracy
. EISA, Johannesburg. pp.
319–
321. Archived from
the original
on 28 February 2014.
Mário, Tomás Vieira; UNESCO (2011).
Assessment of Media Development in Mozambique: Based on UNESCO's Media Development Indicators
. UNESCO. p. 123.
ISBN
978-92-3-001022-5
Archived
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. Retrieved
15 July
2015
Berg, Jerome S. (24 October 2008).
Broadcasting on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today
. McFarland. p. 221.
ISBN
978-0-7864-6902-4
Archived
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15 July
2015
"Mozambique – Cultural institutions"
Encyclopedia Britannica
. 26 January 2021.
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2021
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. 11 March 2020.
Archived
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7 January
2021
Further reading
edit
Abrahamsson, Hans,
Mozambique: The Troubled Transition, from Socialist Construction to Free Market Capitalism
London: Zed Books, 1995
Bowen, Merle L., "The State against the Peasantry: Rural struggles in colonial and postcolonial Mozambique", Charlottesville & London, University Press of Virginia, 2000
Cahen, Michel,
Les bandits: un historien au Mozambique
, Paris: Gulbenkian, 1994
Fialho Feliciano, José, "Antropologia económca dos Thonga do sul de Moçambique", Maputo, Arquivo Histórico de Moçamique, 1998
Gengenbach, Heidi, "Binding Memories: Women as Makers and Tellers of History in Magude, Mozambique". Columbia University Press, 2004.
Entire Text Online
Archived
26 March 2009 at the
Wayback Machine
Mwakikagile, Godfrey,
Africa and America in The Sixties: A Decade That Changed The Nation and The Destiny of A Continent
, First Edition, New Africa Press, 2006,
ISBN
978-0-9802534-2-9
Mwakikagile, Godfrey,
Nyerere and Africa: End of an Era
, Third Edition, New Africa Press, 2006, "Chapter Seven: "The Struggle for Mozambique: The Founding of FRELIMO in Tanzania," pp. 206–225,
ISBN
978-0-9802534-1-2
Morier-Genoud, Eric, Cahen, Michel and do Rosário, Domingos M. (eds),
The War Within New Perspectives on the Civil War in Mozambique, 1976–1992
(Oxford: James Currey, 2018)
Morier-Genoud, Eric, "Mozambique since 1989: Shaping democracy after Socialism" in A.R.Mustapha & L.Whitfield (eds),
Turning Points in African Democracy
, Oxford: James Currey, 2008, pp. 153–166.
Newitt, Malyn,
A History of Mozambique
Indiana University Press.
ISBN
1-85065-172-8
Pitcher, Anne,
Transforming Mozambique: The politics of privatisation, 1975–2000
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002
Varia, "Religion in Mozambique",
LFM: Social sciences & Missions
No. 17, December 2005
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