Mtwara is the capital city of the Mtwara Region located in southeastern Tanzania. The city was planned and constructed during the 1940s specifically to serve as an export facility for the Tanganyika groundnut scheme. Although the scheme was abandoned in 1951, the infrastructure remains a defining feature of the urban layout.
The city was designed to accommodate a population of up to 200,000 people, though its current population is approximately 141,000. Notable landmarks from its development include a range of large municipal buildings and a post office. Additionally, Mtwara features a deep-water port capable of accommodating ocean-going vessels; recent improvements have enabled the berthing of large container ships.