ABOUT MOZAMBIQUE

The Republic of Mozambique is situated along the eastern seaboard of the Indian Ocean in eastern and southern Africa. The country gained its independence from Portugal in 1976, but a protracted civil war in the 1980’s to the early 1990’s played havoc with the social structure of the country, and wrecked the economy. Mozambique has a democratic multi-party government system, with capitalism forming the backbone of the current resurgent economy.

Some interesting features fore the country are the following (2011 figures):

Area: 802 000 sq km
Population: 23,9 million
GDP per capita: US $800
GNI per capita (Atlas method): US $480 (Sub-Saharan Africa = US $1,258)
GNI (Atlas method): US $11,1 billion
Annual growth rate: population 2,4%
Annual growth rate: labour force 2,3%
Infant mortality: 142 per thousand births
Life expectancy: 50,2 years
HIV and AIDS rate: 11,5%
Literacy rate: 55,1%
No access to safe water: 44,1% of households
International human development rank: 184 (out of 187)
Global hunger rank/index: 65/22,7
Structure of the economy (% of GDP):

Agriculture: 29,8% (declined from 39,1% in 1991)
Industry: 23,0% (increased from 14,6% in 1991)
Services: 47,2% (46,2% in 1991)
Annual growth agriculture: 8,7% (up from 5,8% in 1991)
Annual growth industry: 7,6% (15,4% in 1991)

Trade: total exports: US $2,656 million
Trade: total imports: US $4,465 million
Donor aid and government expenditure: 2012 donors promised 41,4% of expenditure; delivered just 27%

Notwithstanding the encouraging growth of the economy during especially the last decade, Mozambique is still a very poor country. No full-scale socio-economic survey has been undertaken in Coutada 5, but the local situation would probably be at an even lower level than the abovementioned averages of the country. Companies such as Africa Futura Wildlife Restoration Lda have a major role to play in maintaining and accelerating the upsurge of the economy.’