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General Information Area: 799,380 sq km (308,641 sq miles). Population: 19,104,696 (2000). Population Density: 23.9 per sq km. Capital: Maputo. Population: 1,018,938 (official estimate 2000). GEOGRAPHY: Mozambique borders Tanzania to the north, Zambia and Malawi to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and South Africa and Swaziland to the southwest. To the east lies the Indian Ocean and a coastline of nearly 2500km (1550 miles) with beaches bordered by lagoons, coral reefs and strings of islands. Behind the coastline, a vast low plateau rising towards mountains in the west and north accounts for nearly half the area of Mozambique. The landscape of the plateau is savannah – more or less dry and open woodlands with tracts of short grass steppe. The western and northern highlands are patched with forest. The Zambezi is the largest and most important of the 25 main rivers which flow through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. The major concentrations of population (comprising many different ethnic groups) are along the coast and in the fertile and relatively productive river valleys, notably in Zambezia and Gaza provinces. The Makua-Lomwe, who belong to the Central Bantu, live mainly in the area north of Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces. The Tsonga, who are the predominant race in the southern lowlands, provide a great deal of the labour for the South African mines. In the Inhambane coastal district are the Chopi and Tsonga, while in the central area are the Shona. The Makonde inhabit the far north. Mestizos and Asians live in the main populated area along the coast and in the more fertile river valleys. Government: Republic since 1990. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Head of State: President Joaquím Alberto Chissano since 1986. Head of Government: Prime Minister Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi since 1994. Language: Portuguese is the official language. Many local African languages, such as Tsonga, Sena Nyanja, Makonde and Macua, are also spoken. Religion: Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), Muslim and Hindu. Many also follow traditional beliefs. Time: GMT + 2. Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 258. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator; there may be some delay. Mobile telephone GSM 1800/900 networks with limited roaming agreements. Coverage is mainly of Maputo and some towns in the south. The only network operator at present is Mcel (website: www.mcel.co.mz). Handsets cannot be hired for short periods. Internet ISPs include Teledata (website: www.teledata.mz). There are at least two Internet cafes in Maputo (one in Avenida Julius Nyerere). Telegram Connections are via South Africa to international telecommunications network. Internal communications exist between most major towns. Post Postal services are available in main centres. Airmail to Europe usually takes five to seven days, but sometimes longer. Press There are no English-language newspapers published in Mozambique. The daily papers are Notícias, Correio da Manha and Diário de Moçambique. Mediafax and Metical are news sheets available by fax. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 21.47 12.10 11.94 6.005 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.