Terrain

Mozambique can be divided into four geographic regions. The country has coastal plains, followed by uplands that stretch inland (200 - 500 m), high plateaus (500 - 1,000 m) and mountains in the west. Its highest peak is Monte Binga (2,436 m), which is close to the border with Zimbabwe.

Climate

Mozambique has a tropical climate. It is warmer on the coast than inland, and the precipitation rate gets higher as the land rises. In December, dry winds give way to trade winds, which are accompanied by a lot of rain and generally lasts until March.

Fauna/Flora

A large part of the country was destroyed during the war. The Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique was one of the few places not affected by the war, as it is located a long way off the coast of Mozambique. It has a multifarious and unique ecosystem and is home to sea cows, as well as the most pristine coral reefs.

A spectacular array of wildlife, ranging from frigate birds and falcons to crocodiles, sea turtles, antelopes, rodents, lizards and snakes, inhabits the massive dunes and scrubland. The wildlife populations of other areas on mainland Mozambique such as Maputo Elephant Reserve or Zinave National Park have been decimated by the war and by poachers.

Since the end of the war, new conservation areas have been established, such as Chimanimani National Park in a mountainous part of western Mozambique which still has many rare plant species, or Nyassa Reserve near Malawi, a zone of rich biodiversity which was also badly affected by the war.

History/Politics

When Vasco da Gama landed on the African coast in 1489, Mozambique was the point for contact of the two most powerful and developed civilizations in Africa: the trade-oriented Muslim culture of the east coast and the animist culture of Zimbabwe specialising in metal processing. Vasco da Gama was soon followed by Portuguese settlers who established a protectorate in the 17th century that became a centre of the slave trade. Over the centuries that followed the Portuguese just controlled the coastal areas. The final conquest of Mozambique's inland areas was not completed until 1920. The colony was awarded the status of an overseas territory by the Portuguese government ten years later to prevent the rise of nationalist movements.

The plan did not work and FRELIMO (Front for Liberation of Mozambique) sparked guerrilla warfare in 1964. After ten years of guerrilla warfare against the colonial power, Mozambique became independent in 1975 and declared itself a Marxist state. In 1980, civil war broke out, which caused widespread devastation of the country and was made even worse by natural disasters. This made Mozambique's economic situation even worse and people fled the country in their thousands. President Samora Machel died in a plane crash in 1986 and was succeeded by Joaquim Chissano.

The first negotiations with the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) took place in 1990, after the government had officially renounced Marxism.

It was only in 1992 that a peace agreement was signed. This marked the end of a long war which had turned five million people into refugees and had left more than a million dead. The first multiparty presidential and legislative elections took place in 1994. Joaquim Chissano was elected president; he was re-elected in 1999. In 2002, the country was hit by a malaria epidemic and malaria became the most common cause of death. Armando Guebuza was the winner of the 2004 presidential elections. He took his oath in February 2005.

Economy

The civil war caused the country's economy to collapse. Mozambique was devastated; its railway lines were destroyed, its cashew crops were sabotaged, and Mozambican workers who has until then been working in neighbouring South Africa's coffee plantations and mines were prevented from crossing the border. Today Mozambique's economy still depends heavily on foreign aid, but peace agreements between the formerly warring factions have given the people new hope.

The government is trying hard to stimulate the economy; the inflation rate has already dropped significantly, and economic reforms supported by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) have encouraged foreign investment. This investment has created many new jobs, which should lead to an increase in the unemployment rate which is currently about 50%.

Mozambique has succeeded in increasing its exports (mainly shrimps, cashews, cotton and sugar), but the country still has to import farm equipment, oil and food. 90% of the labour force is employed in agriculture, but unexploded land mines remain one of the biggest obstacles to further development in rural areas of the country. Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in the world. However, the country is on the road to recovery, with tourism and infrastructure investments by international companies and organisations leading the way (the quality of ports and railway lines were improved to allow goods to be transported within the country). The government promotes the extraction of oil and natural gas as well as the mining of minerals such as coal and titanium. In 2003, the average inflation rate was 10.8%, while unemployment reached 21%.

Culture

The Makonde are known as fearless people and ardent followers of initiation rituals. For the male initiation it is common practice to wear masks for the "mapico" dance, one of their most important dances. Another cultural characteristic is the tattooing of the body and the sharpening of teeth, both for aesthetic purposes. The Makonde are also known as artists, particularly for their wood and ivory carvings.

The birthday of Eduardo Mondlane - the first president of Mozambique - is celebrated on 3 February. People take flowers to his grave, which is located in the military cemetery. This holiday is more significant to people who live in urban areas than to those in rural areas. Many women wear traditional dresses such as the capolana - a cloth tied at the waist that goes down to the ankles and is worn with a matching blouse and a hat.