Space Program of Mozambique

------Mozsambique, Africa's Space Agency------

Level = 0                                         Development: Very Low

  

Country Overview

What has been going on in Mocambique?

 

 

Space Agency and its Activity

What kind of space power do they have?

 

 

Weapons and Power Projection

Does Mozambique have space weapons?

 

 

Timeline and the Future

What are they planning over there?

Population: 20,000,000 / Language: Portuguese / GDP: $1300 / Cities: Maputo

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OVERVIEW

 

 

 

 

Mozambique has been battered by colonial rule, civil war and famine. But since a peace deal ended 16 years of civil conflict the country has made big strides, becoming a magnet for foreign investment.

After independence in 1975 Mozambique was drawn into the struggle against white rule in Rhodesia and South Africa.

The rebel movement Renamo was created by Rhodesia to counter black nationalist guerrillas fighting for Rhodesian independence.

Politics: Ruling Frelimo party's Armando Guebuza won presidential elections in 2004. Former rebel group Renamo holds 92 parliamentary seats to Frelimo's 158

Economy: Observers fear Mozambique is pursuing capital-intensive, showpiece mega-projects which generate little social benefit; natural disasters have slowed post-civil war reconstruction

International: Mozambican peacekeepers are in Burundi.

 

When Rhodesia became independent as Zimbabwe in 1980, the rebels were used by South Africa's military intelligence to coerce Mozambique into expelling exiled South African dissidents and to show the world that black rule did not necessarily mean stability.

Between 1977 and 1992 up to a million Mozambicans died from fighting and famine in a war that ruined the economy and much of the countryside. The country has been left with a legacy of landmines and amputees.

A political settlement in 1992 was followed by stability and rapid economic growth for one of the world's poorest countries. However, it suffered serious setbacks when in 2000 and 2001 it was hit by floods which affected about a quarter of the population and destroyed much of its infrastructure.

In 2002, a severe drought hit many central and southern parts of the country, including previously flood-stricken areas. Poverty remains widespread, with more than 50% of Mozambicans living on less than $1 a day.

Full name: The Republic of Mozambique

President: Armando Guebuza

Armando Guebuza, from the ruling Frelimo party, succeeded Mozambique's long-time leader Joaquim Chissano in February 2005.

The main opposition party, Renamo, disputed the outcome of the presidential poll and alleged that the election had been rigged. Monitors said irregularities were probably not sufficient to have changed the outcome.

Mr Guebuza, a wealthy businessman, said he would continue the economic reforms started by his predecessor. On taking office he promised to fight corruption, bureaucracy and poverty.

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Mozambique's Space Agency

Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries, with one of the least developed space programs in the world. Not only does it certainly not have an agency, but also no infrastructure in which one would arise. Its has no scientific university and the government has no ministry devoted to science of this type.

Mozambique has no history of being part of any organization dealing with space, nor has any launch capability.

Mozambique lacks the industrial base, the educational base and the political foundation for a process like this to occur within it. It has no functioning university with an astrophysics or astronautics program, as University of Mozambique (Eduarde Mondlane) does not offer a degree. Industry is negligable.

Mozambique operates no satellites and, not having a presence, has no space power.

The government of Mozambique in Maputo has no plans for attempting to further any ambition in space development or research.

 

 

 

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WEAPONS AND POWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Timeline of Events in Mozambique

...From the Past to the Future

 

 

 3rd century - Iron Age Bantu-speaking tribes move into area from west-central Africa.

Maputo: One of East Africa's main ports

11th century - Shona empire develops between Limpopo and Zambezi rivers.

1498 - Portuguese expedition led by explorer Vasco da Gama drops anchor off Mozambican coast.

16-17th centuries - Portuguese venture into interior. Following military campaigns, colonists set up trading posts and mining enterprises and parcel-out land to European settlers.

18th-19th centuries - Mozambique becomes major slave-trading centre.

Slave trade banned

1842 - Portugal outlaws slave trade from Mozambique, but clandestine trade continues for decades.

1878 - Portugal leases large tracts of territory to trading companies, who use conscript African labour to further their interests and build infrastructure.

1891 - Portugal and Britain define Mozambique's western and southern borders.

Samora Machel steered Mozambique towards Marxism

1902 - Lourenco Marques becomes colonial capital.

1932 - Portugal breaks up trading companies and imposes direct rule over colony.

1950s-60s - Colonial economy thrives, attracting thousands of new Portuguese settlers to Mozambique.

1962 - exiled activists opposed to Portuguese colonial power meet in Tanzania to form Mozambique Liberation Front - Frelimo - headed by Eduardo Mondlane.

1964 - Frelimo forces begin war of independence. Guerrilla tactics frustrate Portuguese and Frelimo take control of much of north.

1974 - Military coup in Portugal. New government supports autonomy for colonies; many Portuguese settlers desert Mozambique.

1974 - Portugal and Frelimo sign Lusaka Accord; transitional government is established.

Independence

1975 - Mozambique becomes independent. Frelimo rules under single-party system with leader Samora Machel as president.

1976 - Lourenco Marques is renamed Maputo.

1976 - Renamo - an anti-Frelimo resistance group - is set up by white Rhodesian officers as clashes with Frelimo forces escalate and Mozambique imposes economic sanctions against Rhodesia.

1977 - Frelimo adopts Marxist-Leninist doctrine.

1980 - Renamo is supported by South Africa after collapse of Rhodesian regime.

1984 - Under Nkomati Accord, Mozambique drops support for African National Congress (ANC) in return for South African withdrawal of backing for Renamo. Short-lived ceasefire fails and Renamo continues its offensives.

1986 - President Machel is killed in air crash, Joaquim Chissano becomes president.

1989 - Frelimo renounces Marxist-Leninist doctrine.

Multi-party politics

1990 - Government amends the constitution to allow a multi-party political system. Initial talks take place between government and Renamo.

Mozambique bore the brunt of devastating floods in 2000

1992 - President Chissano and Renamo leader Afonso Dhaklama sign peace deal in Rome.

1994 - Chissano is reelected.

1995 - Mozambique becomes Commonwealth member.

1999 December - Chissano defeats Renamo's Dhaklama in presidential elections.

2000 February - Devastating floods sweep through south of country, forcing tens of thousands to flee and leaving trail of destruction.

2000 November - More then 40 people killed in rioting at Renamo protests against 1999 elections. Renamo claims poll was rigged; international observers say election was free and fair.

2000 November - 82 inmates die at prison in north, many of them Renamo supporters rounded up after election riots. Preliminary report suggests asphyxiation owing to overcrowding as cause.

2001 March - Flooding in Zambezi Valley displaces around 70,000 people. Two upstream dams forced to open flood gates, releasing huge volumes of water into river.

Joaquim Chissano stepped down after 18 years in power


2002 June - Frelimo chooses independence struggle veteran Armando Guebuza as candidate for 2004 presidential elections; Chissano had declined to run for third term.

2002 November - Two defendants in murder trial allege that son of President Chissano is linked to 2000 killing of journalist Carlos Cardoso. Nymphine Chissano denies knowledge of murder.

2003 November - Brazil promises to build plant in Mozambique to produce anti-retroviral drugs for HIV-Aids sufferers.

2005 February - Frelimo's Armando Guebuza inaugurated as president after defeating his main rival, Afonso Dhlakhama of Renamo, in November's presidential poll.

2005 October - Work starts on a long-planned "Unity Bridge" over the Ruvuma river, intended to link Mozambique and neighbouring Tanzania.

2006 February - An earthquake hits the central province of Manica, killing two.

2006 July - The World Bank cancels most of Mozambique's debt under a plan promoted by the G8 nations.

 

 

TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE

 

 

Nothing Planned

 

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