We should start with a brief history of the country. Mozambique was a Portuguese colony in the mid-20th century. Local streets were named after famous Portuguese people, and there were monuments dedicated to them. Mozambicans started fighting for independence in the 60s of the previous century. They were demolishing statues of colonizers and changing the names of their streets and towns. The country finally became independent in 1975 and changed its name to the People’s Republic of Mozambique. All colonists were expelled from the country, and people who had no experience became the new leaders. A civil war started in 1976, and it ended only in 1992. This is when the young country finally started developing. There are some positive shifts, but the country still lacks order and economic growth.
Nowadays, every foreign guest needs to undergo a verification procedure that includes taking photographs and fingerprint records. A photograph in the passport is not important. Customs officers have their database, and they input information about every foreigner who visits Mozambique. Do not take large sums of money with you. People with more than 5,000 U.S. dollars in cash are subject to investigation as potential smugglers. Prepare for a long talk to customs officers in this case. Naturally, problems like this can spoil any vacation.
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