![[Gweru city flag]](../images/z/zw-gweru.gif)
image
by Martin Grieve, 22 Aug 2002
Last modified: 2015-05-25 by bruce berry
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by Martin Grieve, 22 Aug 2002
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”
gw.gif)
scan by
Bruce Berry, 11 Oct 2006
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 original helmet and mantling have been removed and
the motto changed to “Progress”.
The Gweru municipal flag retains the basic design of its Gwelo predecessor
(see below) having the new municipal Arms in the centre of a flag of three
vertical stripes of red, white and red.
Source: Municipal Flags in Zimbabwe,
lecture by Bruce Berry presented
at XVII ICV, Cape Town 1997) [brr99].
Bruce Berry, 22 Aug 2002
![[Gweru city old flag]](../images/z/zw-go.gif)
image
by Martin Grieve, 22 Aug 2002
Gwelo lies in the centre of the country and 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”
gw1.jpg)
scan
by Bruce Berry, 19 Nov 2006
In keeping with the tradition followed by the other major centres in
the country, the city flew a flag which incorporated 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. The flag
was used until after independence when Gwelo was renamed Gweru and adopted new
municipal symbols in 1986 (see above).
Bruce Berry, 22 Aug 2002
For a better view of former and present arms of Gweru/Gwelo see Ralf
Hartemink's website. (editor)
