Manica
Manica province is a border province known for its mountain near the capital Chimoio with the form of “the old man’s head.” The province serves as a direct link with Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, for the transport of cargo from the port of Beira. With a population of 1,400,415 people, an area of 61,661 km2 and a population density of 21 people per km2, the Chimanica people predominantly inhabit the province.
Recent exploration activities of gold and diamonds have created conflicts with neighboring Zimbabweans and brought new investment to a province that almost was devastated by desertification. The main crop produced in Manica during the colonial period was cotton and nowadays there is a significant production of maize and potatoes.
The HIV-positive rate is estimated at 19.7%, almost the same as the province of Maputo. The fact that it serves as a bridge between the province with the highest infection rate (Sofala) and Zimbabwe, a country with HIV-positive rate that is high as well (20.1%), increases the vulnerability level of the population of the province.
The ten districts which make up the province are: Barué, Gondola, Guro, Manica, Mossurize, Sussundenga, Tambara, the city of Chimoio, Machaze and Macossa. At present the FLM works in the city of Chimoio, the second largest district and the fifth largest city of the country, with an estimated population of 170,000 people.
FLM implements the Cantina Escolar program in the capital City of Chimoio, in the Vilanova Secondary School. It also implements the SGPM in Chimoio, Manica and Sussendenga districts.