Short facts about the government of Mozambique
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Mozambique
conventional short
form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de
Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former:
Portuguese East Africa |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Administrative divisions: |
10 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, 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 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July
1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since
NA December 1994)
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 2004); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected
president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA
47.71% |
| 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 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 |
| 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,
chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance - Electoral Union (Resistencia
Nacional Mocambicana - Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,
president] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo
NAMASHULUA
chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202)
835-0245 |
| 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) 490114 |
| 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 | Source: World Factbook |
