MOZAMBIQUE AND SOUTH AFRICA

When Mozambique earned its independence from Portugal in 1975, the previous nation's leadership fled the country, leaving behind a trail of destroyed infrastructure in their wake. Since then, the country has been ravaged by civil conflict, hunger, and flooding, all of which have contributed to it becoming one of the poorest in the world. There are only a few bridges that are still standing, and the terrain is still littered with land mines from the war. Despite this, Mozambique is capable of moving on from its troubled history of the recent past. The country has a rich and lush landscape, and the majority of its mineral resources have not yet been exploited. \n

The coastal city of Beira on the Indian Ocean is the second largest city in Mozambique and also the country's major port. The majority of imports and exports from Zimbabwe's neighbour are transported via the port, which is connected to Harare via pipeline, rail, and road connections. Beira is also connected to Harare via Harare International Airport. During the time of the civil war, this vital connection was guarded by as many as 10,000 soldiers from Zimbabwe.

After the country gained its independence, the government of Mozambique nationalized all of the country's health services and made them available to its inhabitants at no cost. However, years of civil conflict have destroyed the majority of rural hospitals and clinics, and infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and pneumonia continue to claim the lives of a significant number of people. Today, more than half of the population is dependent on foreign help for food, and practically the whole population is living in abject poverty. Aid in the form of millions of euros is sent to Mozambique on an annual basis, largely by nations in Europe and the United States of America.

Following the country's declaration of independence in 1975, a civil war broke out between the communist Frelimo government and the Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) rebels, which were supported by South Africa. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 900,000 people and created widespread starvation. The cessation of international funding for Renamo, in conjunction with the Frelimo government's resolve to conduct multiparty elections, resulted in the signing of a peace pact by both parties in the year 1992.

In Mozambique, agriculture is the primary source of income for more than 85 percent of the population. The fertile coastal plains are used for the cultivation of sugarcane, cotton, tea, cashew nuts, and citrus fruits, while the upland pastures are used for the raising of tobacco and cattle. There are countless fish in the world's oceans, and the trade of shrimp, lobster, and other types of seafood is beneficial to the economy of the United States.

The timbila, which is a type of xylophone, is the primary instrument used in the music of the Chopi people who live along the coast. The intricate migodo (dance suites) that depict village life are brought to life through the music played by timbila orchestras. Timbila music is Mozambique's national music.

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SOUTH AFRICA

Under the multiracial control of the African National Congress, SOUTH AFRICA made the transition from being ruled by a white minority to being ruled by a majority in the year 1994. (ANC). Since 1948, the government of South Africa has upheld the policy of apartheid, which mandated the separation of racial groups and restricted the power of white people. As a result of South Africa's isolation from the rest of the world, the level of violence between different racial groups rose. After Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa, apartheid was finally put to an end, and the country was able to reestablish normal relations with the rest of the world.

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in 1964 as a senior member of the ANC and remained there for 26 years until his release in 1990. This was the result of President de Klerk's decision to legalize black freedom groups in order to bring apartheid to an end. The ANC won political power under Nelson Mandela's leadership in 1994, and Mandela became South Africa's first black president.

As part of the apartheid regime in South Africa, black workers and their families were required to live in townships that had been specifically established for them and were located a significant distance from their places of employment. Over a million people call the township of Soweto, which is the largest and most well-known of these settlements, home. Every day, black people leave the township of Soweto and make the arduous journey in overloaded buses and trains to get to their jobs in the mines and factories of Johannesburg.

The multicultural nation of South Africa is home to a wide variety of distinct racial and linguistic communities as well as 11 official languages. One such group is known as the Ndebele, and they are distinguished by the peculiar architecture of their homes, which feature brilliantly painted geometric patterns in vivid colors. Women are responsible for the upkeep of the huts, which includes painting the exterior walls in the spring. \n

Pretoria/Tshwane, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town are the three capital cities of South Africa, respectively. The administration is located in Pretoria/Tshwane, while the courts of law are located in Bloemfontein, and the parliament is located in Cape Town. The financial and industrial heart of South Africa is located in Johannesburg, which is also known as "the golden city." Gold mines located hundreds of meters below the earth's surface have been responsible for the creation of vast amounts of money, which in turn has encouraged the development of a wide industrial sector that manufactures autos, textiles, as well as high-tech and heavy engineering products.

Because of its warm, dry climate and fertile soil, South Africa is a significant global exporter of food. Grown and shipped all over the world are products such as apples, grapes, and citrus fruits. Wines from South Africa are widely regarded as being among the best in the world.

The Witwatersrand gold field, which is located around Johannesburg, has been responsible for producing about half of the world's gold over the course of the past century and continues to provide for more than thirty percent of the total annual output worldwide. In addition to the massive quantities of diamonds and other minerals that are mined there, the country also has robust industrial and banking industries. As a direct consequence of this, South Africa possesses the most robust and developed economy in all of Africa. Nevertheless, rising rates of unemployment and population expansion are also exerting pressure on the economy.

Black and white athletes were placed on separate teams, and sporting venues were segregated by apartheid. South Africa was consequently prohibited from taking part in global athletic competitions. Sports became multiracial after apartheid was abolished, and South African teams were once more allowed to compete in international sporting events. The national team has since participated in FIFA World Cups and will host the competition in 2010.

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