Coat of arms of the city of bulawayo

Blazon and descriptive notes

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).

Explanatory Notes

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”.