Letters from Mozambique

The clichés about Mozambique spill out easily. This African country has been synonymous with war and poverty since independence from Portugal half a century ago. But is that all there is? Stephen Powell travelled the length of the country, to appreciate its beauty and find stories which dig deeper into Mozambique's human reality. He visited the inspiring Gorongosa national park, where an international team has restored biodiversity, created jobs and provided education in a region once riven by conflict. He talked to people at the coal mining town of Moatize, where brave, articulate residents are campaigning against pollution caused by Mozambique's biggest company. He doesn't gloss over the central fact of war. He interviewed leading author Mia Couto about the pain of chronicling the country's civil war, which lasted 15 years. Mozambique today comes across as a delicate mix of political stalemate and youthful vigour. There are green shoots of creativity in the land.