Mozambique

Geography:

Area 799,380 sq.km.  Mozambique is a long, thin country on the east coast of Southern Africa stretching from South Africa in the south to Tanzania in the North. The country has 2500 km of pristine white-sand coastline.  The Zambezi and 24 other rivers divide the country with few remaining bridges after a brutal civil war that spanned the better part of three decades, making it difficult to travel within this country.  Capital Maputo 2.2 million people.  Other major cities: Beira (400 000) and Nampula (500 000).  Urbanites 28%.

Peoples

Population of Mozambique is approximately 18 million.  There are 16 main ethnic groups, the largest are: Makua, Makonde, Sena and Shangaan.  Literacy is officially around 40%, although around 20% functionally. 

Language

The official language is Portuguese, with a total of another 38 languages.  Biblical translations have been completed in 9 languages, 5 New Testaments, 9 in selected portions and 12 in progress.

Religion

The Marxist government ruled out all religious activity between 1975-1982.  Since 1988 religious freedom has been experienced, with Christianity in 57.7% of the population, Traditional Ethnic religions in 22%, Muslim in 18% and others 2.3%.  Some of the churches with the largest membership are the Catholic, Indigenous Churches, Assemblies of God and Seventh-day Adventist. 

History

The Bantu migration was the most significant since they had knowledge of iron working.  The Maravi/ Chewa / Nyanja came in from present-day Zaire to form a powerful kingdom that covered Southern Malawi as well as parts of Mozambique and Zambia.  The first European contact came with the Portuguese navigator, Vasco da Gama, who arrived in 1498 to find several Swahili-Arab outposts.  This later formed a Portuguese colony (Moçambique), lasting 470 years with slave trading to neighbouring countries.  After a long and bitter war Independence came in 1975 which formed a Marxist-Leninist state.  This new state started a devastating guerrilla war with the anti-government movement Renamo.  Finally with international pressure the Frelimo government was forced to institute a multi-party democracy in 1988 and a market economy 1990.  A peace accord was implemented in 1995. 

Economy

One of the poorest countries as a result of politics: colonial neglect, Marxist economic theories and 30 years of heavy guerrilla warfare, and climatic extremes: flooding and drought.  The agricultural land is largely under developed and there is very little infrastructure.  The peace in 1995 brought many improvements that were devastated by the cyclone in 2000.  The country has become heavily dependent on foreign aid.  Mozambique’s currency is the Meticais (pronounced meticash) abbreviated as Mt.

Climate

In a country that is 2,800 km long there are many regional variations.  The dry season is between April and September, with daytime maximums along the coastline reaching 24-270C and cooler inland.  The wet season has a high humidity with a temperature range of 27-330C (along the coast, cooler inland), the coastline often experiences flooding.

box Visas

Visitors are required to have visas, with a cost between US$ 10 to US$ 35 for a single month single-entry tourist visa (US$30 for three month, multiple entry).  These can be obtained at Mozambique embassies in most neighbouring African countries as well as a few others around the world. Visas may be obtained and purchased in US$ cash upon arrival at any Mozambican border post.

 

boxHealth and Vaccinations

Malarial prophylactics are recommended if you will be in a Malaria area (mostly the Eastern and Lowveld regions). These are available within Mozambique at a fairly reasonable cost - and they work!  As well as insect repellent and covering yourself up with long trousers and light cotton long-sleeved shirts in the evenings.  Vaccinations are recommended for Hepatitis A, Polio, Typoid.  As with most countries in sub-Saharan Africa HIV/AIDS is a risk and it is recommended that you take all the necessary precautions to avoid blood-to-blood contact.