Mozambique is a very dynamic country in terms of population and
cultures. For the most part the people are very friendly and open, with a
very welcoming attitude towards all. The one contentious issue which is
still simmering to this day is the differences between the 2 main
political parties, the former civil war opponents FRELIMO and RENAMO,
which is still at times resulting in fighting between dissidents from
both sides.
It is highly recommended that politics not be discussed should you visit Mozambique as this is often a sore point for many people.
The Mozambican people
Mozambican's tend to be a relatively friendly people who enjoy socializing and spending time with friends and family. The social structure is very strongly family oriented and the country has a wide diversity of religions. Due to the highly social nature of the people, knowing the customs and manners of the region are important as giving offense can be easily done without even realizing it.
The crime rate is something that Mozambique has struggled to put into facts and figures. This is due to the simple fact that many crimes go unreported and as such there are no hard proper guidelines as to what the crime rate is actually like. Of the reported crimes, the ones committed against property are by far the highest, with crimes against the person coming in at a distant 2nd. When visiting the country it pays to take a bit of caution, so don't enter any strange areas alone and make sure that valuables are not left in plain sight.
Race
The country does not necessarily struggle with racial tensions per se, but rather with the different ideologies as embodied by the 2 main political parties. This is not to say racial tensions don't exist but that they are not as dominant as in other African countries.
Business environment
Mozambique has been one of the few African countries to experience a booming growth in the economy in recent times. This is not forecast to continue though as the growth does not seem to be translating into poverty alleviation. With many areas of the Mozambican infrastructure still being supported by foreign companies and charities, the country is not seen as an ideal investment environment. This may all be about to change with the recent discovery of natural gas reservoirs off the northern coast.
With the high levels of unemployment and lack of proper educational facilities, many politicians consider the social situation in the country to be dire. This viewpoint is based upon the fact that many young people are becoming frustrated at the lack of opportunities available. This has led to a general feeling that change is necessary in order to generate more job creation.
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It is highly recommended that politics not be discussed should you visit Mozambique as this is often a sore point for many people.
The Mozambican people
Mozambican's tend to be a relatively friendly people who enjoy socializing and spending time with friends and family. The social structure is very strongly family oriented and the country has a wide diversity of religions. Due to the highly social nature of the people, knowing the customs and manners of the region are important as giving offense can be easily done without even realizing it.
As with most other African countries, the people are generally helpful but don't presume this will always be the case.Crime
The crime rate is something that Mozambique has struggled to put into facts and figures. This is due to the simple fact that many crimes go unreported and as such there are no hard proper guidelines as to what the crime rate is actually like. Of the reported crimes, the ones committed against property are by far the highest, with crimes against the person coming in at a distant 2nd. When visiting the country it pays to take a bit of caution, so don't enter any strange areas alone and make sure that valuables are not left in plain sight.
Race
The country does not necessarily struggle with racial tensions per se, but rather with the different ideologies as embodied by the 2 main political parties. This is not to say racial tensions don't exist but that they are not as dominant as in other African countries.
Business environment
Mozambique has been one of the few African countries to experience a booming growth in the economy in recent times. This is not forecast to continue though as the growth does not seem to be translating into poverty alleviation. With many areas of the Mozambican infrastructure still being supported by foreign companies and charities, the country is not seen as an ideal investment environment. This may all be about to change with the recent discovery of natural gas reservoirs off the northern coast.
The infrastructure at present is lacking to exploit this discovery but the growing demand for such fuels should necessitate some sort of way around this problem.Unemployment
With the high levels of unemployment and lack of proper educational facilities, many politicians consider the social situation in the country to be dire. This viewpoint is based upon the fact that many young people are becoming frustrated at the lack of opportunities available. This has led to a general feeling that change is necessary in order to generate more job creation.
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Thinking of living, holidaying or buying in Mozambique?
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