Coat of arms of Namibia

Coat of arms of Namibia since 1990

The coat of arms of Namibia is the official heraldic symbol of Namibia. Introduced at the time of independence in 1990, it superseded the earlier coat of arms used by the South African administration of the territory.

History

The Constituent Assembly which drew up the Namibian Constitution in 1989 appointed a National Symbols Sub-Committee to produce a flag and coat of arms for the country. The committee enlisted the assistance of the South African Bureau of Heraldry. After approving the flag, the committee decided to use the same design as the coat of arms, with the addition of an African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) for a crest, and two gemsbok (Oryx) as supporters.^[1]

Blazon

The arms are blazoned as follows:

• Flag of Namibia: Tierced per bend sinister Azure, and Vert, a bend sinister Gules fimbriated Argent and in dexter chief a Sun with twelve straight rays Or charged with an annulet Azure.
• Crest : Upon a traditional head-ring Vert charged with six lozenges conjoined Or, a fish eagle rising wings elevated and displayed proper.
• Supporters : Two oryx proper.
• Compartment : A Namib sand dune with a Welwitschia Mirabilis on the foreground.
• Motto : Unity Liberty Justice.^[1]

Earlier coats of arms

Proposed arms 1914

Proposed German arms 1914

In 1914, the German government decided to assign coats of arms to its overseas colonies, including South West Africa. Arms were designed, but World War I broke out before the project was finalised, and the arms were never actually taken into use. The arms proposed for German South West Africa depicted an Afrikander bull's head, a diamond, and the German imperial eagle.^[2]

Arms 1963-80

Coat of arms 1963-80

In 1958, the South West African administration decided that the territory should have an official coat of arms. After obtaining South African government approval, the administration engaged Dr Coenraad Beyers to design the arms. They were finalised in 1961, taken into use in 1963, and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in 1964.

The arms were discontinued when South West Africa was reconstituted into a three-tier system of government in 1980. The Administration for Whites (1980-89) took over the arms in 1981.^[3]

The official blazon of the arms is :

• Per chevron ployé Argent and Gules, dexter a karakul ram's face caboshed Sable and sinister the head and neck of an Afrikander bull proper, in base two miner's hammers in saltire Or and there-under three triangular diamonds Argent 2 and 1; on a chief Gules a pale Argent charged with an eagle Sable langued and membered Gules, dexter a representation of Fort Namutoni and sinister a Portuguese padrao both Argent.
• Crest : A gemsbok statant gardant proper.
• Supporters: Dexter a springbok and sinister a kudu, both proper, resting on a desert-like knoll, with a growing Welwitschia Mirabilis in the foreground proper.
• Motto : Viribus unitis.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Merrington, A.J. (1990). 'New National Symbols for the Republic of Namibia' in Arma Vol 32/1990 - II.
2. ^ Pama, C. (1965). Lions and Virgins
3. ^ Brownell, F.G. (1990). 'The Evolution of the Coats of Arms and Flags of SWA and Namibia' in Archives News (August 1990).
4. ^ Bureau of Heraldry

External links

• The National Symbols of Namibia
• South African Heraldry Website