Mozambique

Local government information correct as of 2009

Key facts

POPULATION (Census 2007): 20,530,714
AREA: 801,590 sq km
CAPITAL: Maputo
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: -
CURRENCY: Mozambican metical (MZN)
HEAD OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT: President Armando Guebuza
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: republic
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: unicameral
STATE STRUCTURE: unitary
LANGUAGES: Portuguese (official) Swahili, Makhuwa, Sena (recognised)
NATIONAL ELECTIONS: last: 2009; turnout: 44%; next: 2013
LOCAL ELECTION: last: Nov 2008 turnout: - next: 2013

Summary

Mozambique is a democratic republic with two spheres of government: national and local. Law No. 9/96 (‘the local authority law’) enshrines local government in the constitution whilst Laws No. 2/97 and 10/97 (‘the municipalities laws’ establish municipalities in all 33 cities and ten of the country’s 116 towns. Local government therefore only covers a proportion of the population, and is predominantly urban. The Minister of State Administration is responsible for the administration of the laws overseeing local government. Municipal budgets must be prepared and managed within the framework of the central government budget and municipalities are also responsible for collecting taxes and user fees. One of the main sources of central–local government transfers is the Municipal Compensation Fund, which in 2006 represented 3.5% of all tax revenue raised at national level. Local government has a number of statutory functions including the execution of economic, cultural and social programmes.

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Additional information since publication:

no information at present