The African Country of Mozambique

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The African Country of Mozambique

Mozambique is a country located on the southeast coast of Africa. It

covers 308,642 square miles and has a population of about sixteen million.

Maputo is the capitol, largest city, and chief port.

Mozambique was governed by Portugal from the early 1500's until 1975

when it became independent after a ten year struggle against Portuguese

rule.

Mozambique is now controlled by Frelimo (the front for the liberation

of Mozambique) the nations only political party. The president of Frelimo

is also the nations president. Mozambiques highest governmental power lies

with the parties central committee which is made up of fifteen members

appointed by Frelimo. This party appoints the two hundred and ten members

of the peoples assembly,(Mozambiques legislative body).This group meets

twice a year. It's permanent committee handles legislative matters between

sessions.

Most Mozambicans are black Africans. Other groups such as Arabs,

Europeans, and Pakistanis make up less than one percent of the population.

Most blacks belong to groups that speak one of the Bantu languages. The

largest of these groups, the Makua-Lomwe, accounts for forty percent of the

population. The countries official language is Portuguese but few blacks

can speak it. Some Mozambicans speak English when conducting business

activities.

Most Mozambicans are farmers with extremely simple techniques although

farmers in some areas of the country use modern techniques.

Fifty five percent of the people of Mozambique practice traditional

African religions. Of this large group, many are animists who believe that

everything in nature has a soul. Others worship spirits of their ancestors.

About thirty percent of the population is Christian, mostly Roman Catholic.

Many of the remaining are Muslim.

Only about twenty five percent of Mozambiques people fifteen or older

can read or write but the government has begun programs to help improve

education.

Almost one half of Mozambique is covered by a flat plain that extends

inland from the coast. Land rises steadily beyond the plain and high

plateaus and mountains run along much of the western border. Sand dunes

and swamps line the coast. Grasslands and tropical rain forests cover much

of the country.

Many sizable rivers flow east through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean,

there basins have extremely fertile soil. Cashew trees and coconut palms

grow throughout the country. Animal life in Mozambique includes crocodiles,

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