Mozambique, independent republic, south-eastern Africa, bordered on the north by Tanzania, on the east by the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, on the south and south-west by South Africa and Swaziland, and on the west by Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Mozambique gained freedom from Portugal in 1975. It has a total area of 801,590 sq km (309,496 sq mi). Maputo is the capital and largest city.