Welcome!

Welcome to Mozambique. I hope you will enjoy staying with us….

Money
Mozambique’s currency is called the Metical (MT) (you can check current exchange www.xe.com/ucc/). In
addition to MT, both US$ and South African Rand currencies are sometimes accepted. Please note that there is
no parallel currency market in Mozambique and that currencies are freely and openly traded.
Recognized travelers’ checks may be cashed in Mozambique. Note that the transaction cost for cashing is high.
Major international credit cards (VISA and MasterCard) may be used for payment at hotels, restaurants and
some shops in Maputo and the major towns, but are rarely accepted elsewhere. Credit cards should be used
with caution, due to the potential for fraud. ATMs are easily available. Exchange rates for cash at the private
bureaus may be more favorable than the bank rates.

Shopping
You will find everything in Maputo although the selection is not always very wide. Import taxes on consumer
goods are relatively high and therefore such products are many times relative more expensive compared to for
example South Africa.
Please note: In June 2010, Mozambican business man Mohamed Bachir Sulmen had his name added to the list
of international drug kingpins by the Obama administration. Suleman leads a well-financed narcotics trafficking
and money laundering network in Mozambique that is centered on his family-owned business conglomerate
Grupo MBS Limitada which includes Kayum Ferragens, Kayum Centre (Electrical appliances) and Maputo
Shopping Centre. The move prohibits U.S. citizens from conducting financial or commercial transactions with
these entities.

Communication
Time zone GMT +2
International dialing code for Mozambique + 258

Mozambique has two mobile service providers:

Both of them have good network coverage in Maputo province and in almost all areas of the country. Both of
them have roaming with more than 100 countries.

Personal safety
Individual security is foremost a personal concern. There are occasional security incidents of street robberies,
carjackings and house break-ins in the main cities, most of them involving the use of firearms. Petty theft is
rather common in the streets of major towns. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to exercise caution at all
times.

Visitors are requested to be alert and follow these simple rules during their stay in Mozambique.
 Always make arrangements for someone to pick you up at the airport.
 Avoid driving or walking alone, especially during dark and in isolated areas.
 Restrict movements to the main part of the cities where there is good public presence.
 Be wary of people hanging around hotels offering different types of services. They may be criminals.
 Avoid carrying large sums of cash on you.
 Never provide your credit card number and the security digits.
 Always be present when others are swiping your credit card.
 Never let anyone take photocopies of your credit card.
 Do not leave any personal belongings unattended whether at the hotel room or in the conference room or
any other place.
 Do not open your room to strangers.
 Don’t flash expensive items such as golden bracelets, necklaces, cell phones, cameras, etc.
 Never resist if attacked. Cooperate with the criminals and give up everything you have.
 Answer your cell phone in a safe, protected area.
 Lock the car doors and keep the windows closed when in a vehicle, and do not stop in poorly lit areas.
 In recent years there has been an increased police presence, particularly road blocks. If you are driving a car,
always keep with you your car documents (Livrete and Título de Registo de Propriedade), driving license and
insurance. Police behavior at times can be nerve racking. Keep calm, show your documents and you should be
OK. If calmness does not work, call us at 82 713 4082 (Jorge Pratas)
 If you are being coerced into paying a bribe you can also phone the anti-corruption number 829657804.

Health considerations
Travelers to Mozambique and its countryside may come across a few health hazards, which are broadly similar
to other tropical countries. Some general precautions may be required and the following are broad
recommendations. If you are on medication, please bring adequate supply, since it may be difficult in
Mozambique to get special medication.
Please consult your family physician for vaccination requirements and malaria prophylaxis.

It is recommended that you do not drink the tap water, but rather drink bottled water during your stay. Also
remember to wash all fruit and vegetables well before eating, or even better – peel them.

Malaria chemoprophylaxis
Malaria is present throughout the year and risk of transmission by mosquitoes is much higher during rain fall
season, from October/November to March. Though the condition is deemed dreadful it can be easily treated
at its early stage. Preventative measures exist such as mosquito netting and chemical agents (environment or
body sprays, lotions and sticks) which aim at reducing or preventing mosquito bites. Beyond this you can
always take anti-malaria medication at sub-treatment dosage.

Diarrheal diseases
Diarrheal diseases including cholera are more frequent in Mozambique during the rainy season
(October/November to the end of March). For prevention, simple precautions should be respected such as
strict avoidance of consumption of raw vegetables (salads, etc.) and any homemade food sold on the streets
e.g. fried foods and nuts. Fruits should be consumed only after washing and peeling. Only use bottled water.
Seafood, such as prawns and shellfish, always carry a certain risk. As much as possible, cooked food should be
consumed right after preparation. Hand washing also remains a basic component of prevention.

About Mozambique
Geography
Mozambique is a large country covering a land area of approximately 800,000 sq. km. It lies on the east coast
of Africa between 21°27' and 26°52' S latitude, and 30°12' and 40°51' E longitude. The country has one of the
longest coastlines in Africa at almost 2,500 km. Mozambique is bordered to the north by Tanzania, to the west
by Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and to the south by the Republic of South Africa, and Swaziland. It is traversed
by nine river systems, the major ones being the Rovuma, the Limpopo, the Save and the Zambezi all flowing
eastwards into the Indian Ocean.
There are three basic geographic divisions within Mozambique:
 The coastal belt and islands, composed of the lower Zambezi area and the coastal hinterland, which is
approximately 100 km wide and which covers about 44% of the country;
 The middle plateau, west of the coast, rises to elevations of 200-600 meters, and covers about 29% of the
country;
 The upper plateau and highland regions, with average elevations of around 1,000 meters, which covers the
remaining 27% of the country.

Vegetation includes open forest, dense tropical and subtropical rainforest and savannah. While much of the
animal life was decimated during the years of conflict, there are efforts underway to reintroduce many species
to the country and to conserve the diverse wildlife including the bird species, reefs and remaining larger
mammals.
Natural resources: Coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite.

The country is divided into eleven provinces: Maputo, Maputo city, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica, Tete,
Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. Each of these is further sub-divided into districts.
Capital City: Maputo (pop. 1.2 million)
Other Cities: Beira, Matola, Nampula, Quelimane, Tete, Nacala

Climate
The varied climate throughout the country is strongly influenced by altitude, proximity to the sea and the
south coast trade winds of the Indian Ocean. The major zones are the inter-tropical zone, north of 20° S
latitude where temperatures range between 20 to 36°C and the subtropical zone of the Southern Hemisphere,
south of 20° S latitude, where temperatures range from 18 to 31°C.

The rainy season varies from 4 to 8 months in the Northern-Zone from November-December to March-June.
The Southern-Zone is characterized by a subtropical anticyclone system and the main rains fall between
October and March. Most of the country receives, on average, more than 1,000mm precipitation per annum
and only the Zambeze valley, Tete, and the interior of Gaza and Inhambane provinces receive less than 600
mm. Mountainous areas have some 2,000 mm of rainfall. The driest areas of the country lie in the interior of
Gaza Province.

Government
Type: Multi-party democracy.
Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal).
Constitution: 30 November 1990.
Head of State: President Armando Guebuza
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations; AU (African Union); SADC (Southern
African Development Community); the Non-Aligned Movement; the Community of Portuguese-Speaking
Countries (CPLP); the Organisation of Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP); The Commonwealth;
the Islamic Conference Organisation (OIC); Francophonie; and the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
Major political parties: Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo), Resistência Nacional de Moçambique
(Renamo)
People
Nationality: Mozambican(s).
People: Indigenous ethnic groups and small minorities of European and Asian descent.
Languages: Portuguese (official), 16 African languages and respective dialects

Religion(s): Roman Catholic (30.3%), other Christian (including independent African churches 36%), Muslim
(18%). Elements of indigenous religion are widespread.
Ethnic groups: Makua, Tsonga, Makonde, Changana, Shona, Sena, Ndau, and other indigenous groups, and
approximately 10,000 Europeans, 35,000 Euro-Africans, and 15,000 South Asians.
Literacy: 67% for men 38% for women

History of Mozambique
Mozambique's first inhabitants were the San hunters and gatherers, ancestors of the Khoisani peoples.
Between the first and fourth centuries AD, waves of Bantu-speaking peoples migrated from the north through
the Zambezi River valley and then gradually into the plateau and coastal areas. The Bantu were farmers and
ironworkers.
The Portuguese arrived on the East African coast in the early 16th century, displacing Arab rulers from many of
the towns. They established settlements along the Zambezi, but were for centuries largely confined to the river
valley and the coastal strip. After many failed attempts to penetrate inland (particularly to control the gold and
silver mines of what is now Zimbabwe), they made a concerted effort to conquer the interior in the late 19th
century. By 1914 the Portuguese had achieved the “effective occupation” required by the 1885 Berlin
Conference of European powers to justify imperial claims.
In contrast to the policies of other colonial powers in Africa after 1945, the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal
(1932- 1968) was determined to hold on to the country’s colonies. The Frente de Libertação de Moçambique
(Frelimo) formed in 1962, led the struggle for independence. Following the military coup in Portugal in 1974, a
joint Portuguese/Frelimo Transitional Government was established, and in 1975 the country achieved
independence under Frelimo whose leader, Samora Machel, became the first president.
Frelimo initially pursued Marxist-Leninist policies, and was violently opposed by the Resistência Nacional de
Moçambique (Renamo), formed in 1976/7 under Rhodesian direction. Following the demise of Rhodesia,
Renamo enjoyed South African patronage as part of the latter’s “Total Onslaught” strategy aimed at disrupting
the politics and economies of the black ruled “front-line states” on its borders.
War-weariness and political changes in South Africa and Mozambique – including Frelimo’s move away from
doctrinaire Marxism-Leninism – helped bring about a peace agreement, signed in Rome, between Frelimo and
Renamo in 1992. The end of the civil war, facilitated by both Mozambicans and the international community, is
regarded as one of the most successful examples of conflict resolution in Africa.

Economy
Currency: Metical (MT) = 100 centavos
GDP: US$8.132 bn (2007 estimate)
GDP per head: US$333 (2005)
Annual GDP Growth: 7.5% (2007 estimate)
Inflation: 8% (2007 estimate)
Major Industries: aluminium (processing only); natural gas; hydro power, prawns and fish (45%); cotton (2%);
cashew nuts (9%); timber, sugar and copra (14%); agriculture

Major trading partners: (exports) Spain, South Africa, USA, Belgium, Italy; (imports) South Africa, Australia,
Portugal.
Mozambique’s economy was devastated by decades of conflict. Its high growth rate over the last decade has
been from a very low base, and has been greatly dependent on capital-intensive investment by the private
sector, and on the strong South African economy. The government has initiated widespread reforms to
alleviate this, particularly in banking, the management of public finance and the collection of customs dues.
Agriculture employs 83% of the population and until recently accounted for 80% of exports. Minerals make up
an increasing share of exports, and recent investment in Mozambique’s mineral and gas deposits may increase
their contribution to the economy.
The Mozambican economy also benefits from the transit of goods to and from the African interior. Investment
in infrastructure for the Beira, Nacala and Maputo Corridors, which respectively link Zimbabwe, Malawi and
South Africa’s Gauteng province to the Indian Ocean has increased in recent years.