Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic
(Assembleia da Republica)
Judicial branch: People's Courts at all levels
Leaders:
Chief of State--President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6
November 1986);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO
(since 17 July 1986)
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO)--formerly a Marxist
organization with close ties to the USSR--was the only legal party before
30 November 1990 when the new Constitution went into effect establishing
a multiparty system; note--the government has announced that multiparty
elections will be held in 1991; parties such as
the Liberal Democratic Party of Mozambique (PALMO),
the Mozambique National Union (UNAMO),
and the Mozambique National Movement (MONAMO) have already emerged
Suffrage: universal adult at age 18
Elections: electoral law--to be ratified in 1991--will provide
for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly elections
Communists: about 200,000 FRELIMO members; note--FRELIMO no
longer considers itself a Communist party
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hipolito PATRICIO; Chancery
at Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202)
293-7146;
US--Ambassador Townsend B. FRIEDMAN, Jr.; Embassy at Avenida
Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo (mailing address is P. O. Box 783, Maputo);
telephone 258 (1) 49-27-97, 49-01-67, 49-03-50
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and
yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black
band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open
white book
ECONOMY
Overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, with a per capita GDP
of little more than $100, Mozambique has failed to exploit the economic
potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation
resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and investment declined
throughout the first half of the 1980s because of internal disorders,
lack of government administrative control, and a growing foreign debt.
A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an economic reform policy,
has resulted in successive years of economic growth since 1985.
Agricultural output, nevertheless, is at about only 75% of its 1981
level, and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20-40% of
capacity. The economy depends heavily on foreign assistance to keep
afloat.
GDP: $1.6 billion, per capita $110; real growth rate 5.0%
(1989 est.)
Agriculture: accounts for 90% of the labor force, 50% of GDP,
and about 90% of exports; cash crops--cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane,
tea, shrimp; other crops--cassava, corn, rice, tropical fruits; not
self-sufficient in food
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $890 million
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 3,288 km total; 3,140 km 1.067-meter gauge; 148 km
0.762-meter narrow gauge; Malawi-Nacala, Malawi-Beira, and
Zimbabwe-Maputo lines are subject to closure because of insurgency
Highways: 26,498 km total; 4,593 km paved; 829 km gravel, crushed
stone, stabilized soil; 21,076 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Pipelines: 306 km crude oil (not operating); 289 km refined
products
Airports: 197 total, 145 usable; 27 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 27 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines,
and radio relay; 57,400 telephones; stations--15 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV;
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
