Mozambique

Maputo is the capital of Mozambique, serving as the country’s political and administrative hub on Maputo Bay along the Indian Ocean. Formerly called Lourenço Marques under Portuguese rule, it became the capital at independence in 1975 and hosts the presidency, parliament, and key ministries. Its strategic port and proximity to South Africa make it an economic gateway. The other options are major cities but not the capital: Beira is a crucial port and Mozambique’s second-largest city; Nampula is a northern commercial center; Tete lies on the Zambezi River near coal fields and the Cahora Bassa dam. Memory tip: “M for Mozambique, M for Maputo”—the two Ms match to mark the capital.