Mozambique Facts and Culture

What is Mozambique famous for?

• Food and Recipes: Maize (corn) is the staple food. Pork and wild pig are favorite dishes and are usually prepared with sauces. Shell... More
• Family: Mozambicans practice subsistence farming (farming that provides just enough for family needs). Men usually perform the initial plowing while women... More
• Fashion: Traditional clothing such as Capulans or headscarves are still worn but most people wear Western style of clothing. Capulans are... More
• Recreation: Soccer is the most popular sport. In the urban areas many other sports are played as well. Children also enjoy... More
• Cultural Attributes: Agriculture is the people's leading economic activity.  Cashew trees and coconut palms grow throughout the country.  Other farm products include... More

What is the capital of Mozambique?

Capital	Maputo
Government Type	presidential republic
Currency	Mozambican Metical (MZM)
Total Area	308,641 Square Miles 799,380 Square Kilometers
Location	South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Language	Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
GDP - real growth rate	7%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$1,300.00 (USD)

What is the population of Mozambique?

Ethnic Groups	indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Nationality Adjective	Mozambican
Nationality Noun	Mozambican(s)
Population	30,098,197
Population - note	note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Population Growth Rate	2.44%
Population in Major Urban Areas	MAPUTO (capital) 1.15 million; Matola 790,000
Predominant Language	Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Urban Population	31.2%

What type of government does Mozambique have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019) (2019) head of government: President... More
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique dual citizenship recognized: no residency... More
• National Holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975) More
• Constitution: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004; amended 2007; note - amendments drafted in late... More
• Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal) More

What environmental issues does Mozambique have?

• Overview: The Republic of Mozambique, 1,737-mile coastline stretches from the Rovuma River in the north, to Ponta de Ouro in the... More
• Climate: The climate in the plains and along the coast is warm and humid; the mountainous areas are cooler, although at... More
• Border Countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km More
• Environment - Current Issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban... More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,... More
• Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west More

How big is the Mozambique economy?

• Economic Overview: At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil... More
• Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco More
• Currency Name and Code: Mozambican Metical (MZM) More
• Export Partners: Belgium 42.4%, South Africa 17.6%, Zimbabwe 5.7%, Spain 5.4%, Portugal 4.4% More
• Import Partners: South Africa 30.4%, Portugal 6.1%, US 5.2%, India 4.2%, Australia 4.1% More

What current events are happening in Mozambique?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Mozambique?

• A birthday tradition in Mozambique is the child gets tapped on the arm for each birth year. Usually a big party which includes a formal dinner is held.
  
• Mozambique became a Portuguese center for the slave trade.
• The Chopi communities live mainly in the southern part of Inhambane province in southern Mozambique and are famous for their orchestra music. Their orchestras consist of five to thirty wooden xylophones, called timbila, of varying sizes and ranges of pitch. The timbila are finely manufactured and tuned wooden instruments made from the highly resonant wood of the slow-growing mwenje (sneezewort) tree. Under each wooden slat, a resonator made out of calabashes is fastened, tightly sealed with beeswax, and tempered with the oil of the nkuso fruit, giving the timbila their rich nasal sound and characteristic vibrations. The orchestras are composed of timbila masters and apprentices of all age groups, with children playing next to their grandfathers.
  
  Each year, several new pieces are composed and performed at weddings and other community events. The rhythms within each theme are complex, so that the players left hand is often executing a different rhythm from that of the right hand. Lasting about one hour, performances feature solo and orchestra themes, using varying tempi. Closely connected with the music are particular timbila dances that are performed by two to twelve dancers in front of the orchestra. Each timbila performance includes the solemn mzeno song, performed by dancers, while musicians play softly and slowly. These texts, full of humour and sarcasm, reflect contemporary social issues and serve to chronicle community events.
  
  Most experienced timbila performers are old. Although several timbila masters have started to train young musicians and have also included girls in their orchestras and dance groups, young people are increasingly losing contact with this cultural heritage. In addition, deforestation has led to the scarcity of the wood needed to produce the particular sonority of the timbila instruments.

What can you learn about Mozambique in this video?

The Chopi Timbila YouTube: Unesco

What makes Mozambique a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Mozambique is a developing country in southern Africa that has been steadily rebuilding its economy and civic institutions since ending a 16-year civil war in 1992. The country stabilized following Mozambique's first multi-party elections in October 1994, and the current president was reelected in October 2009. The next presidential elections will be held in 2014. Despite high economic growth rates in recent years, Mozambique remains among the world's poorest countries, with a GDP per capita of under $400. Facilities for tourism in Maputo, the capital city, are steadily improving but remain limited in other areas. Many goods and services have extremely limited availability. The official language is Portuguese, although English is spoken in many tourist areas, and in some rural areas only local languages are widely spoken.

Crime

Although the vast majority of visitors complete their travels in Mozambique without incident, the most serious threat facing U.S. citizens visiting Mozambique is crime. Street crimes, including mugging, purse-snatching, and pick-pocketing are common, both in Maputo and in secondary cities. Carjackings have become rare, but still do happen. Visitors must be vigilant when out in public areas and should not display jewelry or other items —even those of low value, like cell phones and personal music devices. Avoid isolated areas. Joggers and pedestrians have frequently been mugged, even during daylight hours. Visitors should take caution when walking at night, even in well-known tourist areas. Due to an increase in violent crime, pedestrian activity is discouraged on Maputo's Avenida Marginal between the Southern Sun hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) and the Waterfront Restaurant.

Mozambican police do not operate at the standard that U.S. citizens are accustomed to in the United States. Visitors should not expect the same level of police service.

Many airline trips from Mozambique to the United States, Europe, or African destinations transit Johannesburg, South Africa. Baggage pilferage is an ongoing problem at Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo International Airport. Travelers are encouraged to secure their luggage, use an airport plastic wrapping service, and avoid placing currency, electronics, jewelry, cameras, cosmetics, running shoes, or other valuables in checked luggage. Having a complete inventory of items placed in checked baggage can aid in processing a claim if theft does occur.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Mozambique, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mozambique, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Mozambican laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mozambique are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in Mozambique: While some countries will automatically notify the U.S. embassy if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities are rudimentary, and most medical providers do not speak fluent English. Medicines are not always consistently available. There are both public and private medical facilities in the city of Maputo and most provincial capitals. All health care institutions and providers require payment at the time of service, and may even require payment before providing service. While some private clinics accept credit cards, many medical facilities do not. Doctors and hospitals outside Maputo generally expect immediate cash payment for health services. Outside of Maputo, available medical care ranges from very basic to nonexistent.

Safety and Security

Overland travel after dark is extremely dangerous due to the increased potential for vehicle hijacking. Visitors should be particularly vigilant when driving on the main thoroughfares connecting Mozambique and South Africa as incidents of vehicle theft, including assault and robbery, have been reported. U.S. government personnel who work at the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique are strongly discouraged from overland travel outside Maputo city limits after dark, and are encouraged to travel in convoys of two or more vehicles when outside of the city. They are prohibited from using “chapas” (local minibuses) due to frequent accidents involving these vehicles. Due to residual landmines, overland travelers are advised to remain on well-traveled roads or seek local information before going off-road outside of Maputo and other provincial capitals.

Although demonstrations do occur in Mozambique, they are infrequent and there have been no recent demonstrations against U.S. interests. If any demonstrations do occur, they should be avoided.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Mozambique, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Mozambique is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Serious traffic accidents, one of the greatest threats to U.S. citizens in Mozambique, occur regularly throughout the country. Accidents involving drivers and pedestrians are common, sometimes resulting in pedestrian casualty. Pedestrians often walk in the road and may not be visible to motorists, especially at night. If a serious accident occurs, or if a driver hits a pedestrian, crowds quickly gather. Some drivers involved in accidents of this nature have felt threatened by the crowds and fled the accident scene. We urge any driver involved in an accident to immediately report the accident to the nearest police station and to contact the Embassy.

Drivers should obey police signals to stop at checkpoints, which are common throughout Mozambique. Foreigners visiting Mozambique for more than 90 days are required to have an International Driver’s License or to obtain a Mozambican driver’s license.

The main north-south thoroughfare is passable north of Maputo until the city of Caia (Sofala province), where vehicle passengers must disembark and cross the Zambezi River by ferryboat. On the north side of the river, the road continues to the Northern provinces. The road network connecting provincial capitals is in fair condition, but can be riddled with potholes and other obstacles.

The EN4 toll road between Maputo and South Africa is well-maintained. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling outside cities after dark because of the increased risk of banditry, poor road conditions in some areas, poor maintenance of many vehicles in the country (e.g., no headlights or rear lights), as well as the threat imposed by livestock grazing on roadsides. Travel outside Maputo often requires a four-wheel drive vehicle, which creates an additional security risk since these vehicles are high-theft items. Public transportation is limited and often has poor safety standards.

The U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens not to use “chapas” (local minibuses) as a method of transportation due to frequent, often fatal accidents involving these vehicles. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. We also suggest that travelers visit the web site of the Mozambique’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety.