Mozambique
Business meetings are generally formal and businessmen of Portuguese heritage are sticklers for formalities. Knowledge of Portuguese is normally necessary for business dealings, although there are translation facilities available in Maputo. Maintaining a good reputation and consistently doing right by others is important to businessmen in Mozambique. Business cards are generally exchanged, though often not with senior government officials. Mozambicans are rarely late for an appointment and almost always show. Nevertheless, Mozambique's business class is quite thin. The primary business activity in Mozambique is still trading and distribution, although this is beginning to change. Distribution systems are primitive. Many Mozambicans engaged in international commerce take advantage of personal ties to Portugal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, or India. Many speak English. The business community is small enough so that most know each other fairly well. Competitors in one area may be partners in another.
Potential investors should be on the lookout for questionable business practices; e.g. tax evasion is quite common. Many businesses do not produce accurate financial accounts. Concepts such as depreciation, cash and asset management are poorly understood. Few can bring more than local relationships to a venture with a foreign partner. Office hours are 0730-1230 and 1400-1730 Monday to Friday.
Crime remains a serious concern for residents and visitors in Mozambique. Incidents of armed robberies, home invasions, and carjackings are common, and many criminals actively target foreigners. Individuals, including foreigners, have been injured and in some cases killed. With the exception of highway banditry and carjackings, crime is generally more common in urban areas than in rural areas. Traveling alone or at night is particularly risky. Pedestrians and joggers have been mugged and robbed during daylight hours. Visitors are encouraged to avoid walking alone or in isolated areas. In certain areas in the city of Maputo, pedestrian traffic is prohibited. Government facilities should not be photographed without permission. Responsibility for crime prevention rests with a national police force that is poorly trained, poorly paid, and inadequately equipped to prevent or respond to criminal acts.
Hotels of international standard are found in the cities of Maputo including the Hotel Polana, the Cardoso Hotel and the Rovuma Hotel. In Beira, the better hotels include the Makuti Housing Complex and the Hotel Mo ambique. Lesser accommodations can be found in smaller towns.
Telephone IDD service is available in the country. The country code is 258. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. Telephone and fax service is fairly reliable in major urban centers, but expensive. In most of the country, public phones are not available except at the office of the national telephone company, TDM. However, TDM has begun installing public phones in Maputo. TDM inaugurated cellular telephone service in Maputo in 1997 through its joint venture with Deutsche Telekom. The GSM standard is used. Roaming is generally possible along the Maputo Corridor leading to South Africa, and billing may be accomplished in South Africa. Internet is available in Maputo through several local service providers.
Electricity is 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.
C,F,M
The cuisine is mainly Portuguese with Far Eastern influences. Specialties are piri-piri chicken, Zambesi chicken, shellfish, including Delagoa Bay prawns (which are grilled and served with piri-piri sauce), matapa (sauce of ground peanuts and cassava leaves) with rice or wusa (stiff maize porridge). Restaurants are to be found in main towns, as well as hotel dining rooms.Tipping:
Not generally expected outside Maputo. In Maputo and other tourist-exposed areas, around 5 per cent of the bill is normal (depending on standards of service and the place itself).Nightlife
Maputo has a lively
nightlife, particularly on weekends. Feira Popular is the main forum of evening activity with various bars and discos, some with live music. The style of music in clubs varies from typical Mozambican rhythms to Western pop music. The National Company of Song & Dance has rehearsals which are open to the public. Most major towns have cinemas.
