Mozambique is a southern African nation whose long Indian Ocean coastline is dotted with popular beaches like Tofo, as well as offshore marine parks. In the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250km stretch of coral islands, mangrove-covered Ibo Island has colonial-era ruins surviving from a period of Portuguese rule. The Bazaruto Archipelago farther south has reefs which protect rare marine life including dugongs. Mozambique is divided into two topographical regions: To the north of the Zambezi River, a narrow coastline and bordering plateau slope upward into hills, and a series of rugged highlands punctuated by scattered mountains. South of the Zambezi River, the lowlands are much wider with scattered hills and mountains along its borders with South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia.
Monte Binga, peaking at 7,988 ft. (2,435 m), is the highest point of Mozambique; the Indian Ocean (0 m) is the lowest. The country is drained by several significant rivers, with the Zambezi being the largest and most important. The Zambezi is in fact the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Lake Malawi (Nyasa) is the country’s major lake. The Cahora Bassa is Africa’s fourth-largest artificial lake. A small slice of Malawi’s Lake Chiuta sits in Mozambique.
Key Cities
Key cities in Mozambique include: Maputo, Matola, Nampula, Beira, Chimoio, Nacala, Quelimane, Tete, Lichinga, Pemba.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
Etymology. The country was named Moçambique by the Portuguese after the Island of Mozambique, derived from Mussa Bin Bique or Musa Al Big or Mossa Al Bique or Mussa Ben Mbiki or Mussa Ibn Malik, an Arab trader who first visited the island and later lived there. Culture of Mozambique. The culture of Mozambique is in large part derived from its history of Bantu, Swahili, and Portuguese rule, and has expanded since independence in 1975. The majority of its inhabitants are black Africans. Its main language is Portuguese.
Brief Country History
After 100 AD Bantu speaking people arrived in what is now Mozambique. They lived by farming and they made iron tools. They were organized into small kingdoms. By the 9th century, Arab merchants arrived at the coast of Mozambique. For centuries afterward, there was trade between Africans and Arabs. Then in 1498 the Portuguese sailor Vasco Da Gama landed at Ilha de Mocambique on his way to India. In 1511 A Portuguese called Antonio Fernandes explored the interior of Mozambique. During the 16th century, the Portuguese established trading posts along the coast of Mozambique. They also took over some of the lands and divided into large estates called prazos. However, for centuries Portugal only had very limited control over Mozambique. The situation changed in the late 19th century when Europeans carved up Africa between them. In 1891 Britain and Portugal signed a treaty. The British recognized the borders of Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique). A network of railways was built in Mozambique but nothing was done for the native people.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, the situation in Africa changed and many African countries became independent. In 1962 the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) was founded. However, the Portuguese were determined to hang on to their colonies in Africa. In 1964 Frelimo began an armed struggle. The war went on for 10 years with the Portuguese gradually losing ground. Finally, on 25 June 1975 Mozambique became an independent nation. However, the new government in Mozambique adopted Socialist policies which left Mozambique impoverished. Worse, from 1977 Mozambique was riven by civil war. An anti-Communist organization called Renamo fought the government for 15 years. However, by 1989 Frelimo had given up its Socialist policies and in 1990 they published a new constitution. Then in 1992, a peace agreement was made with Renamo. In 1994 elections were held. Mozambique recovered from the war and today it is developing rapidly. Mozambique experienced further setbacks in 2000 and 2001 when it suffered severe floods. Then in 2002, it suffered a severe drought. Yet Mozambique soon recovered. Mozambique is still a poor country but the economy is growing steadily. Mozambique has great potential for tourism. Today the population of Mozambique is 28 million.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
A number of Bantu languages are indigenous to Mozambique. Portuguese, inherited from the colonial period (see: Portuguese Mozambique), is the official language, and Mozambique is a full member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Ethnologue lists 43 languages spoken in the country.
Important Types of Commerce in Mozambique
Major industries in Mozambique include food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, and tobacco. Virtually all manufacturing is located in the major urban areas of Maputo, Beira, and Nampula.
Language Services US and others will provide working with Mozambique
Doing business with Mozambique requires an understanding of their local language which is Portuguese. An individual or business is required to have a Portuguese interpreter accompanying them in Mozambique for an exhibition, business negotiations, training, conference, medical support, or for an excursion to bridge the language gap. Moreover, they also require Portuguese Translation services for translation of important business documents such as sales and marketing literature, copyright, trademark, and patent applications, partnership and employment agreements, mergers, acquisitions and incorporations, trusts, and wills flawlessly.
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