Mozambique

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.

• a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
• desertification;
• pollution of surface and coastal waters

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

43% (male 4,079,240; female 4,122,578)

15-64 years:

54% (male 5,123,178; female 5,262,618)

65 years and over:

3% (male 215,412; female 301,670) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

0.99 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.71 male(s)/female

total population:

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Mozambican(s)

adjective:

Mozambican

conventional long form:

Republic of Mozambique

conventional short form:

Mozambique

local long form:

Republica de Mocambique

local short form:

Mocambique

chief of state:

• President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986);
• note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)

head of government:

Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994)

cabinet:

Cabinet

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
• election last held 3-4 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 47.71%

• Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman];
• Mozambique National Resistance - Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana - Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA

chancery:

Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:

[1] (202) 293-7146

FAX:

[1] (202) 835-0245

chief of mission:

Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN

embassy:

Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo

mailing address:

P. O. Box 783, Maputo

telephone:

[258] (1) 492797

FAX:

[258] (1) 490114

• three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side;
• the black band is edged in white;
• centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

total:

3,131 km

narrow gauge:

2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)

total:

30,400 km

paved:

5,685 km

unpaved:

24,715 km (1996 est.)

total:

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 3 (1999 est.)

• Southern African transit hub for South American cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets;
• producer of hashish and methaqualone [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]