conventional long form: Republic of
Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa local long form: Republica de Mocambique
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Maputo
Administrative
divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia),
1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo,
Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and
customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto
CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly
elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee
on 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17
February 2004) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA
December 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president;
percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA
47.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia
da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA
December 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%,
Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117 note: Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the
other opposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentary
seats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS was expelled
from the party; he continues to hold his parliamentary seat as an
independent
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of
its professional judges are appointed by the president and some are
elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative
Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
note: although the constitution provides for the creation of a
separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its
absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and
leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de
Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO,
president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia
Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,
president]
Political pressure
groups and leaders:
Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para
Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul
CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento
para Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga
Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president];
Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or
DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]
chief of mission: Ambassador Armando
PANGUENE FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic
representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P.
WILKINSON embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490448
Flag description:
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