Sofala Province
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Sofala is a province of Mozambique. It has a population of 2,259,248 (2017 census). Beira is the capital of the province, named for the ruined port of Sofala which is to the south.
Sofala is a province of Mozambique. It has a population of 2,259,248 (2017 census). Beira is the capital of the province, named for the ruined port of Sofala which is to the south.
History
Portuguese landholder and imperialist established a base at the river mouth at what is now Beira in 18841. Sofala Province is one of the strongholds of the RENAMO. In late 1978 RENAMO guerrillas were "ranging into Sofala Province and launching attacks along the Beira–Chimoio road and rail line, the Dondo–Inhaminga corridor". Some of the more scarcely populated areas of the province are affected by landmines; defensive rings around villages were still common in some rural areas according to mid 1990s reports by Oxfam. In March 2019, the province was severely affected by Cyclone Idai, with its capital city of Beira being largely destroyed. The flooding resulting from this storm was widespread throughout the province and the rest of Central Mozambique.
Districts
Sofala Province is divided into 13 districts: Beira District Buzi District Caia District Chemba District Cheringoma District Chibabava District Dondo District Gorongosa District Marromeu District Machanga District Maringué District Muanza District Nhamatanda District
Economy
The city of Beira, the provincial capital and Mozambique's second-largest city and the busiest port in the country, plays a key role in the local economy. Principal exports include ores, tobacco, food products, cotton, hides and skins, with the chief imports including fertilizers, equipment and textiles, liquid fuels and wheat. The Mozambique Company had their headquarters in Beira, during the building of the railway across the country. Many buildings remain from the colonial period, it is "as famed for its seafood as for its tawdry nightlife". The Makuti Lighthouse of Beira was built in 1904. The oil trade has been important to the regional economy, with Beira connected by pipeline to Zimbabwe in 1960. The port of Beira is crucial for the trade in oil involving Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Congo. In the 21st century, agricultural productivity in the province has shown significant improvement, reducing poverty. The Austrian Development Cooperation has played a major role in investment in the province.
References
External links
Province of Sofala official site
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377591958 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.