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| Blazon and
descriptive notes |
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The City's Coat of Arms
and armorial bearings. These were granted on 19th of
October 1943.
Arms - Party per chevron gules and argent three rock-rabbits courant
(imbila) in chief or, and in the base a
cross-crosslet fitchee of the first.
Crest - An African elephant with trunk elevated proper.
Motto - Si Ye, Pambili (Let us go forward).
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Explanatory Notes
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ARMS - The shield is divided in two by a chevron. In
the upper half on a background of red (to signify blood-shed) are three rock-rabbits in gold. The rock-rabbit or
imbila is the totem (isibongo) of the Khumalo, the royal family of the Matabele. The
imbila symbolizes the Matabele
nation. In the lower half a cross-crosslet in red appears on a field of silver. The cross-crosslet is a Christian emblem specially
selected and used in the arms to symbolize European impact on the Matabele by the Missionaries, the first settlers. The
rock- rabbits and cross-crosslet conjure up the historical background.
THE CREST - Stylizes the elephant for heraldic purposes. The elephant was the emblem used by
Lobengula, the last King of the Matabele, in his royal
seal, perpetuating his native title "Ndhlovu" - the elephant.
THE MOTTO - in Ndebele, Si Ye Pambili, means "We go forward" or "Let us go forward".
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