TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1789> <title> Mozambique--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook Southern Africa Mozambique </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> Mozambique's first inhabitants were Bushmanoid hunters and gatherers, ancestors of the Khoisani peoples. Between the first and fourth centuries A.D., 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. When Portuguese explores reached Mozambique in 1498, Arab trading settlements had existed along the coast for several centuries. From about 1500, Portuguese trading posts and forts became regular ports of call on the new route to the east. Later, traders and prospectors penetrated the hinterland seeking gold and slaves. Although Portuguese influence gradually expanded, development lagged while Lisbon devoted itself to the more lucrative trade with India and the Far East and to colonization of Brazil. In the early 20th century, the Portuguese shifted the administration of much of the country to large private companies (controlled and financed mostly by the British), which made lucrative profits by establishing railroad lines with neighboring countries and by supplying cheap (often forced) African labor to the mines and plantations of the nearby British colonies. Because policies were designed to benefit white settlers and the Portuguese homeland, little attention was paid to developing Mozambique's economic infrastructure or the skills of its population. After World War II, while many European nations were granting independence to their colonies, Portugal clung to the concept that Mozambique and other Portuguese possessions were "overseas provinces" of the "mother country." Inevitably, sentiment for independence developed among the Mozambicans. In 1962, several Mozambican anti-Portuguese political groups formed the Front for Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), which in September 1964 initiated an armed campaign against Portuguese colonial rule. After 10 years of sporadic warfare and major political changes in Portugal, Mozambique became independent on June 25, 1975. Political Conditions Mozambique is a socialist, one-party state. FRELIMO is the only party allowed and is the key decisionmaking organ. The most important government officials are members of FRELIMO; however, for those nonparty members, the opportunity does exist for government participation. The legislature--People's Assembly--ratifies legislation prepared by the party. The legislature also acts as a sounding board for government proposals. In this capacity, the assembly has held discussions on draft legislation and government policies, such as the government's economic reform program and a law granting amnesty to Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) armed insurgents who surrender. The assembly normally convenes twice a year for 1-week sessions. The electoral process is closely controlled by the party. National elections for People's Assemblies at the local, district, provincial, and national levels were held in 1977 and 1986. The party drew up single slates of candidates for the elections, which were reviewed with the local population prior to the election. In the 1986 election, voters had some degree of choice since there were, by law 20% more candidates than seats available in the various assemblies. Some members of the provincial and district People's Assemblies are not party members, and at least 15 members of the national People's Assembly do not belong to the party. In late 1987 and early 1988, the government took steps to revise the constitution to increase political participation within the one-party structure. In mid-1988, the draft law on the revision was debated in various levels of the People's Assemblies and in local meetings organized by the party and government. In addition, the party is preparing for its Fifth Congress in July 1989, during which time proposals for broadening party membership and decisionmaking will be considered. As part of these preparations, FRELIMO held its second national party conference in July 1988. Since 1980, RENAMO has waged an increasingly violent bush war against the FRELIMO government. RENAMO was created by the Ian Smith regime in Rhodesia in 1976. After Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980, the South African Government began providing the insurgents with logistical support and training. RENAMO is estimated to have 15,000-20,000 combatants. Beyond its aim to overthrow the present government, it has publicly enunciated only a vague political program, although its broadcasts and publications present an anticommunist posture. Mozambican civilians have been RENAMO's principal targets in the war, although the insurgents also have attacked government installations and economic infrastructure. Between 1986 and mid- 1988, some 100,000 civilians are believed to have been murdered by RENAMO, and about 1 million others fled to neighboring countries. On March 16, 1984, the Governments of Mozambique and South Africa signed the Nkomati accord, which committed both countries to cease hostilities against the other and to search for ways to increase economic cooperation. The Government of Mozambique severely restricted the African National Congress (ANC) after the signing of the accord. The volume of direct South African Government support for RENAMO diminished after the Nkomati accord, but documents discovered during the capture of RENAMO headquarters at Gorongosa in central Mozambique in August 1985 revealed continuing South African Government communication with and military support for RENAMO. Machel was succeeded by Joaquim Alberto Chissano, who had served as foreign minister from 1975 until Machel's death. President Chissano has continued Machel's policies of expanding Mozambique's international ties, particularly the country's links with the West, and pursuing internal reforms. Early in his tenure, Chissano visited nearly all of Mozambique's 10 provinces to hold well-attended town meetings during which he explained the government's economic reform program, urged continuing support for the war against RENAMO, and addressed grievances voiced by the people. Chissano also moved to improve relations with the churches, by meeting regularly with church leaders and, in June 1988, announcing the return of all church property previously seized by the government. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, May 1989. </body> </article> </text>