All Photographs Copyright 1990, 1994, 2000 by Pepe Diniz
		I like Maputo a lot. I'm captivated by almost everything in the capital of Mozambique: the people, the "bairros," the markets, the architecture, the avenues, the trees. Maputo vibrates. But the city also has its share of urban and social problems. The 1998 Local Elections was a step forward to find a solution for those problems. The 2003 Local Elections was the continuation of that effort. Maputo was formerly known as Lourenço Marques (name changed on February 3, 1976). It has a population of about 1.2 million people (2000 Census) and the city is divided into 5 Urban Districts comprising 53 "Bairros" (quarters), excluding the Inhaca Island and Catembe, accross the estuary. Lourenço Marques was founded in March 19, 1782 as a Garrison-Post. Became a Village on December 9, 1876 and a Town on November 10, 1887. On December 1, 1898, Lourenço Marques became the capital of the Portuguese Colony of Mozambique. Mozambique gained its independence on June 25, 1975.