In the 1960s, Africa was decolonized. Countries such as Kenya (1963), Tanzania (1964), Malawi (1964), and Zambia (1964) gained their independence. Portugal held on to its colonies of Angola and Mozambique. But after the Carnation Revolution of 1974, independence came into sight for these countries as well. Immediately after the Carnation Revolution, FRELIMO had already effectively taken power in Mozambique. But June 25, 1975, became Mozambique’s official Independence Day.
Unlike the former British colonies, Mozambique’s independence actually arose from a power vacuum in Portugal. There had been no normal transfer of power. Many of the 250,000 Portuguese had quickly left the country by 1974. And the last ones were ordered to leave the country within 24 hours. They were allowed to take only 20 kg of luggage with them. When we wanted to travel into the country three months after Mozambique’s independence, the border was guarded by 14-year-old boys with Russian machine guns. There was no longer a functioning government apparatus. When we later drove through the city of Tete on the Zambezi River, we saw that the city had indeed been abandoned in a hurry. It had become a ghost town.
The problems in countries like these are always the same and persist to this day in most countries.
Elections always follow a country’s tribal dividing lines. Votes are cast along tribal lines. In this context, there is no consideration of future coalitions; instead, one party attempts to defeat the other, whether through violence or intimidation. At best, this results in a one-party state with a semblance of democracy. But it is not uncommon for dictatorships to develop, as in Zimbabwe or Malawi. Or a civil war breaks out, such as the one that erupted in Mozambique in 1977 and lasted 15 years. In fact, there is no democratic rule of law.
The other problem is that such countries have always been shaped by communist, Marxist, or socialist ideologies. This was often even encouraged by the former colonial power. Any economic growth is then nipped in the bud. The former USSR and Cuba are prime examples of economic development following such ideological lines.