History of Mozambique
About 2000 years ago, Bantu peoples (named for their
language group) began migrating to Southern Africa,
bringing iron tools and weapons with them. Toward the end
of the first millennium, several towns along the Mozambican
coast grew into Bantu trading ports with links to other parts
of Africa, the Middle East and India. The Arab influence in
these ports was strong and Swahili was the predominant
language of trade.
This is the Mozambique that greeted Vasco da Gama when
he arrived in 1498, seeking gold, ivory, and the
establishment of supply points for Portuguese sea routes to
India. He encountered much resistance from Arab traders,
but by the mid-1700s, routes were established and slaves
were added to the cargo. The Portuguese continued moving
inland, eagerly planting colonies throughout the country.
By the early 20th century, the Portuguese had established a
pattern of “renting out” available resources in Mozambique.
These resources included human labor that was “rented” to
neighboring countries. The male labor force was thereby
greatly reduced, a situation that worsened when many more
men left the country because of harsh working conditions
imposed by Fascist leader Antònio Salazar from 1932 to 1968.
Salazar introduced cash crops, such as cotton and rice, and required all males over 15 to work on plantations for half
the year, often in chains. Accompanying the rise in cash crops was a drastic drop in food production, leading to
widespread famine in the 1940s and 1950s. The Portuguese made no effort to- wards social investment in
Mozambique. Of the few schools and hospitals that existed, most were in the cities and reserved for Portuguese, other
whites, and privileged African asimilados.
The severity of conditions peaked in 1960 when Portuguese soldiers opened fire on peaceful demonstrators
protesting taxes, resulting in about 600 deaths. At this point, a Mozambican movement for independence began. The
Mozambique Liberation Front, or Frelimo, formed in 1962. Led by Eduardo Mondlane, Frelimo sought to liberate the
country entirely from Portuguese rule. The war lasted over 10 years, effetively ending in 1974 when the fascist
regime was overthrown.
The independent Republic of Mozambique was proclaimed on June 25, 1975, but conditions only worsened at this
point. The Portuguese pulled out virtually overnight, leaving the country in chaos. With a lack of skilled professionals
and infrastructure, the economy plummeted. Frelimo, now the governing party, turned to the Communist
governments of the Soviet Union and East Germany for help.
By the early 1980s, Mozambique was nearly bankrupt. The currency was worthless and shops were empty. Growing
tension with Rhodesia and South Africa, both of which sought to destabilize Mozambique for harboring bases of
their respective independence movements, intensified already unstable conditions. Rhodesian-trained rebels in
Mozambique formed the Mozambique National Resistance, or Renamo, and were eventually taken over by South
Africa.
What followed has typically been described as a civil war, though Renamo was created, trained, and supplied
wholly by foreign agents. Renamo's aim was the wholesale destruction of Mozambique's social and
communications infrastructure, as well as the eventual overthrow of the government. The drought and famine of
1983 brought the country to its knees. Renamo attacked relief trucks and burned grain stores. Frelimo gradually
yielded to the pressure and began opening up to the west, which responded with infusions of food.
Relations with South Africa improved slightly by the late 1980s, but the Renamo threat did not diminish until Frelimo
abandoned its Marxist ideology in 1990. In 1992, both sides signed a peace treaty that officially ended hostilities.
Elections in 1994 were surprisingly smooth and fair, resulting in the election of Joaquim Chissano, the head of
Frelimo, as president. Since that time, Mozambique has done much to rebuild itself, though landmines, droughts,
and cyclones continue to undermine many efforts.
In January 2001, floods killed an estimated 700 people, left half a million people homeless, and devastated the
economy. Some of the flooded areas, in addition to other regions, then suffered a drought the following year. The
economy remained crippled by debt, with annual payments amounting to almost twice as much as the public health
budget. In recent years, the tourism industry has exploded, and Mozambique has begun exporting large natural gas
reserves to South Africa, hoping that this endeavor will bring billions of dollars into the economy over the next 25
years. Devastating floods struck again in 2007 when Cyclone Flavio swept through northern Mozambique
Republic of Mozambique
Geography: Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa, bordered by Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland, and the Indian Ocean. Its terrain covers 496,718 square miles – roughly twice
the size of California.
Climate: The climate varies according to area, from the warmer, dryer coastal
lowlands in the east, to the cooler, wetter mountains in the west. The hot,
rainy season is from October to March, while the warm, dry season is from
April to September.
Time Zone: GMT +2 (8 hours ahead of Central Standard Time, 7 hours ahead
of Central Daylight Savings Time)
Government: The Mozambican government is a two party republic that celebrated its independence from Portugal
on June 25, 1975. The country is divided into ten provinces and holds presidential elec- tions every five years.
Economy: When independence was established in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries, a
situation that worsened with socialist mismanagement and 15 years of brutal civil war. In 1987, the government
embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms which, combined with donor assistance and political stability, led
to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Mozambique remains, however, one of the least developed
countries in the world, ranking 168th out of 177 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. Poverty
in Mozambique has multiple causes and layers, including injustice, corruption, globalization, and erratic weather.
Mozambique continues to depend upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, with the majority of the
population (70%) remaining below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of
the country's work force, though the agricultural sector accounts for only 21% of GDP. The service (48%) and
industrial sectors (31%) make up the remaining GDP. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced
through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC
initiatives, and is now at a manageable level.
Currency: The currency in Mozambique is the metical (MZM ). This is the exchange medium in the villages and with
businesses and street vendors in the cities. However, many businesses, including most hotels and restaurants,
accept credit cards. According to the exchange rate site www.xe.com, as of January 2012 one U.S. dollar is worth
about 27 meticais.
Population: Mozambique is home to approximately 21.7 million people. The median age is 17.4, with a life
expectancy of 41.2 years. Out of every 1,000 infants born, 106 infants die. Mozambique is one of the few countries
on earth where the life expectancy has actually dropped in the last twenty years. This drop in life expectancy is
likely due to the prevalence of AIDS in the country.
HIV/AIDS: Over 12% of all adults in Mozambique are infected with HIV/AIDS. Estimates from 2007 report 1.5 million
people living with the virus and 81,000 people dying because of the virus.
Other Infectious Diseases: The major infectious diseases of Mozambique include very high risk of bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and schistosomiasis. Malaria and plague are also high risks in some
locations.
Literacy & Education: 47.8% of Mozambicans over 15 years of age can read and write. The literacy rate is
significantly higher among males (63.5%) than among females (32.7%). Because of a lack of trained teachers,
children generally go to school for only a morning or afternoon session so that more children can be taught by the
available personnel.
Ethnic Groups & Languages: There are 16 major ethnic groups in Mozambique. The most significant are the Makua
(the largest group) of the northern provinces; the Makonde (also of the north), famous for their carvings; the Sena,
from the central provinces; and the Shangaana, who dominate the southern provinces. There is also a small
population of native Portuguese (less than 1%), plus small numbers of European and Asian residents.
Each of the major ethnic groups in Mozambique has its own language. The common tongue and official language is
Portuguese. Since teenagers and young adults had their education interrupted by the civil war, Portuguese tends to
be spoken only by older people and the very young. English isn't spoken much outside of the tourist areas of the
south.
Religions: Like the other countries of Southern Africa, animist religions have existed in Mozambique for thousands
of years, and many people retain their traditional beliefs, sometimes alongside an organized religion. Arab traders
introduced Islam to the coastal regions beginning in the 8th century, and Portuguese Catholic missionaries brought
over Christianity in the 16th century. Today, 17.8% of the population is Muslim, mostly in the northern provinces and
coastal areas; 23.8% are Catholic, 17.5% are Zionist Christian, 17.8% are of other religions, and 23.1% profess no
religion.
Many in Mozambique hold to belief in a fickle god and the inability to control fate, therefore attributing their problems
to curses and seeking solutions from witch doctors. These spiritual dimensions sometimes contribute to the
widespread poverty.
The Arts: Mozambique has a rich artistic tradition which, incredible as it may seem, continues to thrive after
decades of colonial occupation and civil war. Today, Mozambique produces some of the finest art in Africa. The
sculpture of the Makonde people from the north is recognized as one of Africa's most sophisticated art forms. A
number of talented painters have emerged since the 1950s. Probably the most famous is Malangatana, who has
exhibited throughout the world. The country is well known for its murals, many of which can be found adorning walls
in Maputo.
Traditions and stories have been preserved and transmitted orally from generation to generation in Mozambique.
The written word has assumed more importance in the 20th century, and nationalist writers such as poet Jose
Craveirinha have made the gritty, often tragic realities of the country their subjects. Since independence, a number
of writers have emerged, including Mia Couto, whose works include Voices Made Night and The Tale of the Two
Who Returned from the Dead.
Traditional music is widely played in Mozambique. The Makonde in the north are noted for their wind instruments,
known as lupembe. In the south the Chope musicians play the marimba, a form of xylophone found throughout
Southern Africa, and are famous for their marimba orchestras. Modern music flourishes in the cities. Marrabenta is
perhaps the most typical Mozambican music - with a light style inspired by traditional rural majika rhythms.
Family Structure: Though in the North several tribes follow a matrilineal tradition, most Mozambican households are
patrilineal. However, the woman of the house is still often the chief caretaker and worker for the family. The women
tend to work the fields, grind the maize, sell goods at the market, care for the children, fetch the water, and
generally run the household. Men will try to earn money in small shops or businesses, which often takes them away
from rural villages into the cities. Many men in the southern provinces migrate to South Africa to work in the mines
or seek other jobs.
Families tend to be large, with 5-10 children. This is due to both high infant/child mortality rates and to the fact that
children help with house and field work, lightening the load on mothers. Similarly, polygamy is not uncommon, and it
is traditionally the first wife who will choose subsequent wives for her husband. Children are highly valued but tend
to be expected to be “seen and not heard.” Breastfeeding is almost the sole means for feeding children, so it is
extremely common in public.
Regions and Districts
Maputo
Previously known as Lourenzo Marques, Maputo is the smallest and most visited
province in Mozambique, but contains the country's capital – the city of Maputo.
In 1898 central authority for the country was transferred from Mozambique Island to
Lourenzo Marques and the city quickly became established as the trade and industry
centre and as a port to serve the gold fields of South Africa. In the early days transport
riders made the perilous journey with ox and wagons, but when the rail link was
constructed, transport became safer and more profitable.
Under Portuguese influence, Lourenzo Marques became one of Africa’s most beautiful
and fashionable cities with an impressive skyline of tall buildings and a cosmopolitan
Portuguese/African atmosphere. Places like the Polana Hotel buzzed with the chatter of
socialites and the nightclubs thumped until the early hours.
But the war in the 1970s and 1980s changed all that. When peace finally came, the once proud city was in terrible
disrepair. Thousands of immigrants crowded the buildings, litter lay everywhere and major services including water
and electricity were out of commission. Today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory. The rich and
famous are once more hanging out at the five-star Polana Hotel, with its grand view over the harbor, its tea gardens
and its old-fashioned Victorian lift.
Gaza
Gaza is one of the most remote and inaccessible (and dry) parts of Mozambique, with
relatively little to offer tourists beyond its short coast- line. The capital, Xai-Xai
(pronounced "shy-shy") is the greatest attraction, but only because of its lovely beaches the town itself is nothing to write home about.
Portuguese is the most prevalent official language in Gaza, an inheritance from the
country's colonial past, but most of the region's population cannot read nor speak it. Of the
60 other languages and dialects spoken in Mozambique, Shangaan is most prevalent in
the southern regions.
Inhambane
The Inhambane Province is most visited for its long, beautiful and relatively economically
developed coastline.
Many towns dot the Inhambane coastline. These include the pro ince's scenic capital,
Inhambane, as well as Vilankulo and Inhassoro, which last two border the islands of the
Bazaruto Archipelago, a beautiful nature reserve with brilliant diving conditions.
Inhambane Province has an area of 68,615 km2 and a population of approximately 1.3
million (2002).
The climate is tropical throughout, more humid along the coast and dryer inland. The coast
has a number of mangrove swamps.
The town of Inhambane existed in the 10th Century, and was the southernmost port used by Arabs for slave trading.
The region was visited by Vasco da Garna in 1498, who claimed Inhambane Bay for Portugal. The Portuguese
established a trading post at Inhambane in 1534.
The province is the second largest grower of cashews (after Nampula), and also produces coconut and citrus fruit.
The long coastline supports much fishing. The Inhambane Bay area is of some interest for tourism, with a number of
beaches, and one of the last remaining populations of dugong in Mozambique.
Nampula
Nampula Province is bordered by two rivers, and contains mostly open savannah
punctuated by rocky outcrops, mesas and plateaus. The capital, Nampula, is the
commercial centre of Mozambique and the country's richest city.
Nampula has little by way of tourist attractions, except for one – the town of Moçambique
on Ilha do Moçambique, which is arguably the most charming town in the entire country.
Run-down and arrestingly picturesque, the island town should not be missed.
Nampula is the capital city and has a population of 314,965 (1997 census), making it
largest town in northern Mozambique. Today, how- ever, the city population is well over
that number. It is home to the Mozambique National Ethnographic Museum, several
markets, cathedrals, and mosques. It is also the center of business in northern Mozambique. Nampula has a few western style hotels and restaurants; however it is not
noted as a tourist destination.
Sofala
Sofala Province has an area of 68,018 km2 and a population of approximately 1.5 million
(2002). It is named for the ruined port of Sofala. Sofala was a major port in East Africa. It
lay on Sofala Bay, south of Beira, in what is now Mozambique.
Founded by the ninth century, the port grew around the gold trade. Portugal constructed
Fort San Caetano in Sofala in 1505, from stone imported from Europe, the stone being
recycled in the twentieth century to build Beira's cathedral. Few ruins now survive at the
site.
Beira, the capital of Sofala, is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies on the central
coast of the province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. It had a
population of 412,588 in 1997 and an estimated 546,000 in 2006. It holds the regionallysignificant Port of Beira which acts as a gateway for both the central interior portion of the
country as well as the land-locked nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi.
Beira is also noteworthy as it was the core city for Renamo (The National Resistance of Mozambique) during the
post-revolution Civil War (which ended only in 1994). Now that Renamo is a recognized national political party, Beira
remains its core constituency.
During the colonial period Beira was noted for its large English-speaking population, and was a favorite holiday
destination for white Rhodesians. One reminder of this is the former Grande Hotel near the shore of the Indian
Ocean, which now lies in near-ruins, but is still occupied by around 1,000 poor Beirans.
In the year 2000, Beira, along with Maputo and most of Southern Mozambique was covered by flooding. Millions
were left homeless and hundreds died. The 2000 Mozambique flood had a negative impact on the local economy.