Country Commercial Guide 2006

Chapter 8:  Business Travel

• Business Customs
• Travel Advisory
• Visa Requirements
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Language
• Health
• Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
• Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings
• Web Resources

Business Customs      

Mozambique's business class is small.  The primary activities in Mozambique are still trading and retail sales, although this is changing.  Many Mozambicans engaged in international trade take advantage of personal ties to Portugal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Middle East, Brazil, or India to accomplish their commerce, and many speak English.
 
Maintaining a good reputation and consistently doing right by others is important. The business community in Maputo is small enough so that most know one another fairly well.  Competitors in one area may be partners in another. Nevertheless, potential investors should be on the lookout for questionable business practices, such as tax evasion and corruption.  Many businesses do not produce accurate financial records. Accounting standards have not been defined and training is poor.  The concepts of accounting, depreciation and asset management are not yet widely understood.
 
Business cards are generally exchanged.  Mozambicans are usually on time for appointments, though the recent increase in business has caused many to over-schedule.  This is especially true of a core group of technocrats in government, who are in great demand.
Travel Advisory       Return to top
Travel information from the Department of State is available on the Internet at: www.travel.state.gov.

Air Travel and Safety:

There are daily flights from New York and Atlanta to Johannesburg on South African Airways (SAA)/Delta, with connecting SAA or Mozambican Airlines (LAM) flights to Maputo.  In addition, SAA and United codeshare flights from Dulles to Johannesburg four times a week.  Daily flights between Europe and Johannesburg are available on major European carriers out of Paris, Frankfurt, London, and Amsterdam. Other international flights to Mozambique originate in Lisbon, Nairobi, Dar-Es-Salaam, Durban, and Harare. In-country air travel is available on LAM and Air Corridor, a newly established private airline.  Due to safety concerns, U.S. Government employees are not allowed to use Air Corridor.  As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Mozambique, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards.  For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm. 

There is an airport departure tax, payable only in cash in U.S. dollars or South African rand or meticais, of $20 or its equivalent for long-distance international flights, and $20.00 or its equivalent for regional flights (those within Southern Africa). A domestic departure tax of $8.00 is levied. 

Road Travel, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions:

While in a foreign country, US citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the Untied States.  The information below concerning Mozambique is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

The main south-north highway is passable from Maputo to Pemba, though vehicles must cross the Zambezi by ferry.  The road network connecting provincial capitals is in fair condition, but can be riddled with potholes and other obstacles during the rainy season.  A new toll road has improved travel between Maputo and South Africa. 

Banditry along major highways continues to threaten the safety of road travelers.  Periodically, the U.S. Embassy has restricted embassy personnel from traveling on certain roads or has imposed certain restrictions on road travel.  Embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling outside cities after dark because of the increased risk of banditry, poor road conditions in some areas, the poor maintenance of many vehicles in the country (e.g. no headlights or rear lights), as well as the threat imposed by livestock that graze on roadsides.  Travel outside Maputo often requires a four-wheel drive vehicle, which creates an additional security risk since these vehicles are high-theft items.  Public transportation is limited.  Travelers contemplating overland travel may wish to contact the U.S. Embassy for the most current information on road travel safety.  Please refer to the Department of State’s Road Safety page for more information at the following web page: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html.  While domestic and international bus and train travel is not recommended, bus service to destinations in South Africa has improved.

Credit Cards and Currency:

Credit cards are increasingly accepted throughout Mozambique in major cities., Hotels, modern shops and restaurants can be expected to accept Visa.  MasterCard and American Express are not widely accepted.  Outside major cities, credit cards are rarely accepted. Most shops and restaurants quote goods and services in the local currency, the “metical” (plural “meticais”), but many will also accept U.S. dollars or South African rand. Dollars can be exchanged at any bank facility, exchange house, and at many hotels. Currency imports or exports in excess of $50 must be declared. Travelers are not allowed to take more than 500,000 meticais (about $20 worth of local currency) out of the country.  Please note that charge limits are in effect on most credit card transactions, and hotel bills need to be settled every few days. Traveler’s checks are rarely accepted and are often subject to exorbitant cashing fees.

Please note that currency can only be converted legally at locations authorized by the Mozambican government.  It is against the law to destroy Mozambican currency; offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.  The South African rand is frequently accepted as legal tender, although this is more common in the southern part of the country that in the north.  Please see the Department of State’s information on customs regulations at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1468.html.

General Security, Crime and Criminal Penalty Information:
 
Travelers to Maputo often arrive from Johannesburg without checked luggage. Flights with short connection times are a particular problem. The Commercial Section recommends that travelers bring essentials and a change of clothes in their carry-on bag. Travelers departing Maputo have also encountered similar difficulties.

The security situation in Maputo continues to require caution. Street crime is common in Maputo and other urban centers. Police and soldiers, whose authority should not be challenged, patrol some city streets. There are certain areas in the city of Maputo where pedestrian traffic is prohibited, e.g., in front of the presidential offices located north of the Hotel Polana on the seaside of Avenida Julius Nyerere.  The most common threat facing U.S. citizens visiting Mozambique is street crime.  Muggings, including purse snatching, and pick pocketing, are common, both in Maputo and secondary cities.  Over the past year there has been a significant increase in attacks on foreigners.  Americans have been victims of sexual assault and robbery.  Visitors must be vigilant when out in public areas and should not display jewelry or other expensive items.  Isolated areas should be avoided.  Joggers and pedestrians frequently have been mugged, even during daylight hours.  Visitors should not walk at night, even in well-known tourist areas.    In a few areas landmines may still present a hazard.  Check with locals for information before leaving well-traveled roads.
The police are poorly paid, poorly equipped, and lack the professionalism that U.S. citizens are accustomed to in the United States. Mozambican law requires that all persons carry an identity document, such as a passport, when out in public, and produce it if requested by police. A copy of passport identity and visa pages is acceptable. 

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.  The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.  Although investigation and prosecution of crimes is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. 

In addition, while in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Mozambique’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mozambique are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s Internet website where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. This website is at: http://travel.state.gov.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Registration/Embassy Location:

Americans living or traveling in Mozambique are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Mozambique.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located in Maputo at 193 Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, telephone (258) (21) 49-27-97.  The after-hours telephone number for use in emergencies is (258) (21) 49-07-23.  The consular section’s fax number is (259) (21) 49-04-48.  The consular section’s email address is consularmaputo@state.gov.  The Embassy’s general website is http://www.usembassy-maputo.gov.mz.

Please read the complete Travel section for further information.
 
Lodging Information:

Hotels charge for no-shows, and most will debit one day's room rate for no-shows and reservations canceled with less than twenty-four hours' notice prior to arrival. Therefore, advance planning and prompt notification of changes well in advance of the twenty-four hour limit are necessary otherwise such charges will be assessed to the intended traveler. 

Currency Information:

Some vendors will accept U.S. dollars (or South African rand), particularly in the southern part of the country, in lieu of the local currency, the metical.  Embassy Maputo recommends against the use of travelers' checks, as transaction charges are uniformly high.  There are no currency import/export restrictions in affect at this time.  Mozambican Airlines (LAM) accepts the American Express credit card.

Hotel accommodations available in Maputo are:
  
Hotel Polana

Avenida Julius Nyerere, 1380
Tel.: (258) (21) 49-10-01/7
Fax: (258) (21) 49-14-80

E-mail: res@polana-hotel.com
Internet access: Rooms at the Polana are wired for Internet access; guests can also access the Internet through the hotel business center. The Polana also has a ‘mobile office’ (a laptop computer and other equipment) available for rental.
Holiday Inn

Av. Marginal 4016
Tel.: (258) (21) 49-50-50
Fax: (258) (21) 49-77-00

E-Mail: himaputo@southernsun.com
Internet access: Holiday Inn rooms are wired for Internet access; guests can also access the Internet through the hotel business center.
 
Hotel Cardoso

Av. Martires de Mueda, 707
Tel.: (258) (21) 49-10-71/5
Fax: (258) (21) 49-18-04

E-mail: info@hotelcardoso.co.mz
Internet access: Guests can access the Internet through the hotel business center.
 
Hotel Rovuma Carlton

Rua da Se, 1114
Tel.: (258) (21) 30-50-00
Fax: (258) (21) 35-03-05

E-mail: reserves.africa@pestana.com
Internet access: Guests can access the Internet through the hotel business center.
 
Hotel Avenida

Avenida Julius Nyerere, 627
Tel.: (258) (21) 49-20-00
Fax: (258) (21) 49-96-00

E-mail: bookings@hotelavenida.co.mz
Internet access: Guests can access the Internet in their rooms and through the hotel business center.
 
Hotel Terminus

Rua Francisco Orland Magumbue, 587
Tel.: (258) (21) 49-13-33
Fax: (258) (21) 49-12-84

E-mail: termhot@terminus-hotel.com
Note: Hotel Terminus rooms are wired for Internet access. Guests can also access the Internet through the hotel business center.
 
Hotel Monte Carlo

Av. Patrice Lumumba, 620
Tel.: (258) (21) 30-40-48
Fax: (258) (21) 30-89-59

E-mail: mocambique@montecarlo-hotel.net

Carlos Luzio, Manager
 
Hotel Tivoli

Av. 25 de Setembro, 1321
Tel.: (258) (21) 30-76-01/8
Fax: (258) (21) 30-76-09

E-mail: Tivoli@teledata.mz
 
VIP Hotel

Av. 25 de Setembro, 692
Tel: (258) (21) 35-10-00
Fax: (258) (21) 35-10-01

E-mail: hotelmaputo@viphotels.com

Girassol Hotel

Av. Patrice Lumumba, 737/739
Tel: (258) (21) 36-03-60
Fax: (258) (21) 36-03-30

E-mail: girassolbahia@visabeiramoz.co.mz

Indy Village – Guest House

Av. Dom Sebastião, 99
Tel: (258) (21) 49-87-65
Fax: (285) (21) 49-96-43

E-mail: indyvillage@visabeiramoz.co.mz

While there are no five star lodgings available in Beira, suitable lodging can be found at:
 
Hotel Tivoli

Av. Bagamoyo, 336
Tel.: (258) (23) 32-03-00
Fax: (258) (23) 32-03-01

E-mail: h.tivoli-beira@teledata.mz

Hotel Embaixador

Rua Correia Brito, 13
Tel.: (258) (23) 32-31-21
Fax: (258) (23) 32-37-88
 
Hotel Mocambique

Av. Bagamoyo, 13
Tel.: (258) (23) 32-9351/4
Fax: (258) (23) 32-50-60
 

Basic lodging may be found in Nampula at the:
 
Atlas Hotel Apartamentos

Av. Samora Machel, 23
Tel.: (258)(26) 21-82-22
Fax: (258)(26) 21-82-33
 
Bamboo Hotel

1465 Estrada Rapale, Bairro Natikiri
Tel.: (258)(26) 21-78-38/21-74-75
Fax: (258)(26) 21-78-03

Email: bamboo@teledata.mz
 
Hotel Tropical

Rua Macombre
Tel.: (258) (26) 21-32-20/22/32
Fax:  (258)(26) 21-63-59

Five-Star Lodging in Pemba may be found at the:

Pemba Beach Hotel

Av. Marginal, 5470
Tel: (258)(72) 21-770 / 777
Fax: (258)(72) 21-779

Email: pembabeach@teledata.mz

In Beira, Nampula, and Pemba rental cars and drivers are available from Avis, Imperial, and Moti car rental.

Visa Requirements       

U.S. citizens are required to obtain visas to enter Mozambique. While visas are now available at all land borders and at the Maputo airport, it is still recommended to obtain one prior to arrival to avoid delays and possible harassment. The standard business or tourist visa obtained abroad is valid for a 30-day stay, and open for a period of 3 months. It is not unusual, however, for shorter duration visas to be issued. Travelers are advised to check both visa validity and length of stay permitted, as these often differ. Any visa overstay is subject to large fines ($100/day). If a traveler intends to interrupt a stay in Mozambique with a trip to a neighboring country, he should request a multiple entry visa. At the land borders only single entry visas are granted.  Citizens of South Africa and other neighboring countries are not required to obtain visas for most types of travel.
 
Visas may be obtained at the following locations outside of Mozambique:
 
Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique

1990 M Street, NW, Suite 570
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 293-7146
Fax: (202) 835-0245)
 
Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique

48 Charles St.
Munckleneuk
Pretoria, South Africa
Tel.: (27) (12) 344-4603 or 401-0300/4
Fax: (27) (12) 326-1101
 
Consulate of the Republic of Mozambique

7th floor, Cape York Building
252 Jeppe Street
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: (27) (11) 336-1821
Fax: (27) (11) 336-9921

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security options are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links.

State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html

United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

United States Embassy – Maputo, Consular Section: http://mozambique.usembassy.gov./consular.htm

Telecommunications    Communications - Postal service is slow and unreliable. Federal Express, DHL and Skynet delivery are available. Telephone and fax service are fairly reliable in major urban centers, but can be expensive. In major cities, public phones are increasingly available. They require the purchase of an inexpensive phone card, sold by the phone company and various shops. Elsewhere in the country, public phones must be accessed at the local office of the national telephone company, TDM. Cellular telephone service is available in all provincial capitals and many district capitals. GSM standard is used. M-Cel and Vodacom have roaming agreements with South African and many European companies.
 
Internet Availability – Several hotels in Maputo and Beira offer Internet access through their business centers, or offer connections for laptop computers in the hotel room. There are also Internet cafes in provincial capitals and some secondary cities.  See above for hotel Internet access information.
 
Cyber-cafes can be found in Maputo at:

Hotel Rovuma Carlton
Rua da Se, 1114
Tel.: (258) (21) 30-50-00
Fax: (258) (21) 35-03-05

Contact: Ms. Orbai Nala or Acucena Solomone
Tel.: (258) (21) 305735
Fax: (258) (21) 305737
E-mail: cafeinternet.hr@tdm.mz

Transportation 

Business Infrastructure - Basic services necessary for the business traveler are available in Maputo, Beira, and to a lesser degree in Nampula and Pemba. Outside these major urban centers, arranging for travel and accommodation can be difficult. In Maputo, rental cars with drivers are available from Avis, Hertz, Imperial (South Africa), and Europcar (part of National Car Rental's international network).

Language        

Portuguese is spoken in all urban areas and in much of the countryside, though in many smaller villages only the local languages are used.  English is understood by some members of the business community, as well as government officials in major cities.

Health         

Medical facilities are rudimentary, and most medical providers do not speak English.  Medicines are not always available.  There are both public and private medical facilities in the city of Maputo.   All health care institutions and providers require payment at the time of service, and may even require payment before service is given.  While some private clinics accept credit cards, many medical facilities do not.  Doctors and hospitals outside of Maputo generally expect immediate cash payment for health services.  Outside of Maputo, available medical care ranges from very basic to non-existent.

Malaria is prevalent in Mozambique.  Travelers to Mozambique should take malaria prophylaxis.  P. falciparum malaria, the serious and sometimes fatal strain in Mozambique, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine.  Because travelers to Mozambique are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers should take one of the following anti-malarial drugs:  mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone).  The CDC has determined that a traveler who is on an appropriate anti-malarial drug has a greatly reduced chance of contracting the disease.  In addition, other personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellent, help reduce malaria risk.  Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what anti-malarial(s) they have or had been taking.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For more information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

The Department of State strongly urges American to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as medical evacuation.  Please see the Department of State’s information on medical insurance overseas at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays   

Holidays:
 
January 1  New Year's Day
February 3    Heroes' Day
April 7     Women's Day
May 1      Workers’ Day
June 25     Independence Day
September 7  Lusaka Agreement Day
September 25 Revolution Day
October 4  Peace and Reconciliation Day
November 10  Maputo City Day (Maputo only)
December 25  Family/Christmas Day

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings  

No Information is available at this time.

Web Resources      

State Department Visa Website:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html

Visa Information:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

United States’ Embassy, Maputo, Mozambique:
http://mozambique.usembassy.gov

United States’ Embassy, Maputo, Consular Section: http://mozambique.usembassy.gov./consular.htm