193.
The CRM cautions that the Mozambican government should come up with a
carefully prepared plan for controlling spending and borrowing and encouraging economic diversification, as well as a system of anticorruption checks
and balances as the extractive industry expands. This will help the country to
escape the negative situation portrayed above.
194.
Mozambique is also endowed with vast areas of land suitable for agriculture. It
is estimated that the country possesses 36 million hectares (ha) of arable land,
of which 20 million ha are of low climatic risk, 5 million ha are of medium
climatic risk, 3 million ha are of high climatic risk and 9 million ha are not viable for climatic reasons. An estimated 3 million ha of land have the potential
for irrigation, but to date only 83 700 ha have been developed for irrigation
and only 37 500 ha are actually being irrigated. 25 The potential for agricultural
development is huge, but this is not likely to be achieved if agricultural production is not modernised.
2.5.4
Long Coastline
195.
Mozambique has the longest marine coastline, with a length of 2 700 km, on
the East African coast and the third longest in Africa. In addition, a considerable
proportion of the land in provinces, such as Sofala and Quelimane, is below sea
level. The Mozambique Channel separates the country from the island of Madagascar. Although Mozambique’s long coastline is interrupted by the mouths of
numerous rivers – notably the Rovuma (which forms part of the boundary with
Tanzania), Incomati (Komati), Limpopo, Lugela, Lúrio, Revùe, Save (Sabi) and
Zambezi (which is navigable for about 465 km within the territory) – there is
huge potential to develop the country’s water transport industry as the major
means of communication between the southern and northern provinces.
196.
Mozambique has five seaports, namely, at Beira, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba
and Quelimane. Despite an increase in the volume of goods and passengers
handled by the seaports between 2006 and 2007, sea transport for passenger movement was the least used among the major modes of transportation
in the country in 2007. The development of sea transport can considerably
complement other means of transport.
197.
Mozambique’s coastline has pristine beaches and marine biodiversity, which
are primary attractions for tourists. There is enormous potential for tourism
development. Although it has been growing fast in recent years, the country’s
tourism industry remains underdeveloped. More should, therefore, be done
to address the constraints facing the development of tourism, especially poor
infrastructure in rural areas.
25
National Directorate of Forests and Wildlife (DNFFB). 1997. PROAGRI: Forestry and wildlife sector – revised
investment programme (1998–2002). Maputo: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
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