QUEEN Elizabeth arrived in Maputo on Monday for a visit aimed at developing commercial and cultural ties with Mozambique, which, though not a British colony, has a long and colourful history of British intrigue. The 10-hour stopover at the end of an African tour marks the queen’s first visit to the former Portuguese colony. Her visit is a spin-off from a trip to Ghana and then South Africa, where she opened the summit of the Commonwealth, a 54-nation organisation which groups mainly former British colonies. She will be presented with the freedom of Maputo, hold an audience with Chissano and meet separately with Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the former rebel Mozambique National Resistance, which is now the main opposition party in parliament.