<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 30 November 1990
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO (since 17 July 1986)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica); draft electoral law provides for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly elections
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman; formerly a Marxist organization with close ties to the USSR; FRELIMO was the only legal party before 30 November 1990, when the new Constitution went into effect establishing a multiparty system
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> under the terms of the 1992 peace accords multiparty elections are scheduled for October 1994; 11 parties, including the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), Alfonso DHLAKAMA, president, are registered to participate
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 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