Mozambique - between macro-economical highlights and subsistence farmers struggling for survival

At independence on June 25th in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. A brutal civil war until 1992 further worsened the country’s social and economic situation. A series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy, donor assistance and political stability with multi-party elections led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate and In-flation rate. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains highly dependent upon foreign assistance (more than 50% of its annual State budget).

Ranked at 168 out of 177 countries of the poorest countries of the world, Mozambique’s income per capita rests on US$ 310 per year with the majority of the population well below the poverty line. Sub-sistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. Only approximately 32% of the population has sustainable access to improved sanitation. Life expectance is parti-cularly low, literacy remains at only 47 %. Access to public health ser-vices continues to be restricted in rural areas. The HIV/AIDS pre-valence rate remains high. The social development is characterized by vast asymmetries between the three main regions, the North, Center and South of the country whereas the three Northern Provinces Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa are amongst the least developed.

Since December 2004, Armando Emilio Guebuza is president of the Republic of Mozambique. The political context remains polarized by Frelimo and Renamo, the two main political parties and former con-tenders during the civil war. The Government’s priorities include strengthening the administration of justice, reform of the police force and reducing poverty, as outlined in the second generation of Moz-ambique’s PARPA II and in the Government’s Program. Important moves have been made towards decentralization with an explicit focus given to the districts. Mozambique’s main political constraints remain a centralized power based on a patronage system, exclusion of political opposition, regional imbalance, corruption and voter alienation.

Facts and Figures

Area: 812,379 sq km
Land Boundaries: Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Climate: Tropical and humid
Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Highest Peak: Monte Binga (2’436 m)
Natural Resources: Coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Natural Hazards: Severe droughts, devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Country name: Republica de Moçambique
Capital: Maputo
Administrative divisions: 11 Provinces (Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo Cidade, Maputo Province, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia)
Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution: 30 November 1990
President: Armando Emílio Guebuza (2005-09)
Prime Minister: Luísa Dias Diogo
Legislative branch: Unicameral Assembly of the Republic with 250 seats (FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%)
Seats in parliament held by woman: 34.8%
Political parties: FRELIMO (Leader: Armando Emilio Guebuza), RENAMO (Leader: Afonso Dhlakama)
Population: 20.90 million
Urban Population: 33.7%
Population density: 24/km²
Population growth rate: 1.8%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.7%; 15-64 years: 52.5 %; 65 years and over: 2.8%
Total fertility rate: 5.29 children born/ woman (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 104 deaths/1’000 live births (2004)
Life expectancy at birth: 41.6 years
Literacy (population of age 15 and over who can read and write): 47.8% (male 63.5%, female 32.7%)
Net primary enrolment ratio: 71% (2004)
Net secondary enrolment ratio: 4% (2004)
HDI (Human development index): 0.39 (rank of 168th out of 177 countries)
People without access to an improved water source: 57%
People undernourished: 45% of total population (2003)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 16.1 % (2005)
Population living below national poverty line: 69.4 % (2003)
Gini-Index (Family income): 39.6 (1997)
Oficial Language: Portuguese
Other Languages: Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%,, Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other languages 33.6%
Ethnic groups: Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena
Religions: Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (Census 1997)
GDP per capita: US $ 313 (2004)
GDP- real growth rate: 9.8% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate: 12.8% (2006 est.)
Agricultural products: Cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava, corn, coconut, sisal, citrus, tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflower, beef, poultry
Industrial products: Food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Export commodities: aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity
Telephone line in use: 69’700 (2004)
Mobil Cellular in use: 1.22 Mio. (2005)
Internet users: 138’000 (2005)
Print Media: Noticias, Diario de Mocambique, Demos, Zambeze, Domingo, Savana, Fim de Semana
Television: Telvisão de Mozambique (TVM), STV, TV Miramar
Radio: Radio Mozambique operates national network, provincial and local channels in Portuguese, English and indigenous languages