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Gweru (Zimbabwe)

Gweru city new flag

by Arnaud Leroy, 2 Dec 2000

Gweru city flag
Gweru city old flag

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Zimbabwe

Gweru city flag

Gweru (formerly Gwelo) is the third largest city in Zimbabwe and lies in the centre of the country. The town was established as a coaching station on the Bulawayo - Salisbury route in the late 1890s and became a municipality in 1917 and a city in 1971. Unlike the other major centres in the country, the early development of Gwelo’s municipal arms is not recorded with a seal for the municipality only being sent to the then Rhodesia Heraldry and Genealogy Society in 1973. Full arms for the city are to be found as Trade Marks Book Register Number 310 dated 26 April 1976 and are described as:
ARMS: Per chevron vert on a pall reversed ermine between in chief a bull’s head cabossed Argent Or and a cob of maize of the last in base a sun gear Or with two plantetary gears enmashed argent.
CREST: On a wreath or gules and vert a Griffin segreant the forequarters Azure and hindquarters Or grasping in Dexter foreclaw a sword argent pommel and hilt or.
MANTLING: Gules doubled Argent.
MOTTO: “Forward”

Gweru city old flag

by Martin Grieve, 22 Aug 2002

In keeping with the tradition followed by the other major centres in the country, the city flies a flag which incorporates the municipal arms. The Gwelo municipal flag comprised three vertical stripes of red, white and red with a full achievement of the city arms in the centre of the white stripe. This design followed the pattern of the Rhodesian national flag which was green, white and green with the national arms in the centre.

Gwelo was renamed Gweru in 1982 on the second anniversary of Zimbabwe’s independence and later adopted new municipal arms. The new arms appear as Trade Marks Reference Number 470 dated 21 April 1986 and are described as:
ARMS: Gules, on a fess wavy azure fimbriated argent between in chief a Bull’s head caboshed Or between two maize cobs argent jessant-de-Lys gold and in base an electric locomotive of the last roofed argent and an open book proper garnished gold and leathered of the second a cog wheel also in gold.
CREST: On a wreath of the colours demi-Griffin the head, wings and forequarters azure and the body or, asumed and langued gules and holding in the Dexter claw a sword argent, pommelled and hilted gold.
MOTTO: “Progress”

The electric train was added to signify the historic launching of the first electric railway track in Zimbabwe between Gweru and
Harare in October 1983 while the book represents the various educational institutions in the city. The helmet and mantling have been removed and the motto changed to “Progress”.
The municipal flag (see above) retains its basic design with the new arms being depicted in the centre.
Source: Municipal Flags in Zimbabwe, lecture by Bruce Berry presented at XVII ICV, Cape Town 1997.
Bruce Berry, 22 Aug 2002

This does not mention sable field in base?! Odd.
Zeljko Heimer, 22 Aug 2002

For a better view of former and present arms of Gweru/Gwelo see Ralf Hartemink's website. (editor)

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