Economy remains fragile

Despite the enormous gains it

has made, the Mozambican

economy and society “remain very

fragile,” according to a Chatham

House report titled “Mozambique

to 2018”.

Factors outside the control of

the authorities include natural

disasters such as floods, which

“take a huge toll on the country’s

ability to feed itself”.

Food insecurity led to bread

riots in 2008 and 2010, which

could recur.

According to a report by the

African Food Security Network

(AFSUN), the underlying cause

of food insecurity is high urban

unemployment and a lack of

regular and decent-paying work.

The Chatham House report

warns that the problems of

unemployed and underemployed

youth, particularly in the urban

areas, remain.

Only 10% of Mozambicans are

formally employed.

According to household survey

data released in February 2015,

only 23.4% of young people aged

between 15 and 24 and living in

urban areas are employed.

Employment rates are more

than twice as high in rural

areas because the survey

includes subsistence farming as

employment.

As a result some 21% of

employment is in the agricultural

sector.