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After 10 years of warfare and Portugal's return to democracy FRELIMO took over the total control of the capital through a coup in April, 1974. Within a year, most of the Portuguese colonists had left, some had been chucked out by the new government while some other fled in fear. Finally on 25th June 1975 Mozambique got its independence.
Portugal's policy of under-developing its colonies along with its rapid exodus left Mozambique with a very few number of human resources. Some of the historical evidence claimed that the country had been left with less than five engineers after June, 1975. During the year 2001, the economic growth could still be seen in cities of Beira, that Once had been a booming holiday hub on the coast. It is said to be the second largest city in Mozambique, with a population of around 300,000.
FRELIMO responded greatly to the Cold War politics and lack of resources and set up a one-party Socialist state. Since then it started receiving adequate international aid from Cuba and the Soviet bloc nations.