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. The ruling 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 with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt the economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have encouraged recent foreign investment.

 Mozambique - Geography & environment

Mozambique lies beside the Indian Ocean in southern Africa. On its borders lie South Africa and Zimbabwe in the south, and Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania in the north. About half the country is made up of flat coastal plain. Heading inland, the land rises and high plateaux and mountains run along the western and northern borders.  Many sizeable rivers, including the Zambezi and Limpopo, flow through Mozambique to the sea. Africa’s largest hydro-electric power dam, the Cabora Bassa, lies in the north-west. Although there’s plenty of water, drought is common in the south of the country.

Mozambique has vast areas of fertile land, which can produce enough food for the nation, as well as exports. Maize, sugar cane, tobacco, rice, tea, and citrus fruits are all grown. But the country’s natural wealth is not fully exploited. Mineral resources such as gold, gemstones and bauxite are still to be tapped. The 2,500km coastline produces marine products, especially prawns, which are the country’s largest single export.

Mozambique has a tropical climate, which is hot and humid. The wet season is from November to March, when about 80 per cent of annual rainfall falls. 

Mozambique - people & society

Most Mozambicans are of Bantu origin. There are also European and Asian minorities. There are many religions in Mozambique. The 1997 census showed that approximately 50 per cent of the people are Christian, 10 per cent Muslim, five per cent animists, (who believe that everything in nature has a soul), with the rest of the population combining traditional faiths with another religion. Most people who live in the cities are Christian or Muslim.

Mozambique has three main cities, Maputo, Beira and Nampula. Here the rich can afford luxury houses, Mercedes cars and high-class restaurants. However, most people live in rural areas, following a traditional way of life. Four out of five Mozambicans depend on the land for a living.

Life in rural areas involves hard work and women do most of it. The majority of Mozambique’s farmers are women. They plant, care for and harvest the crops and also process the food. The staple food is a maize ‘porridge’ that is cooked over a fire and eaten with a vegetable or meat stew. Maize has to be pounded into flour using wooden poles - it’s exhausting work that takes many hours.