Granted by Letters Patent dated 19th October 1943.
Blazon and Descriptive Notes
Arms
Party per chevron gules and argent three rock-rabbits courant (imbila) in chief or, and in the base a cross-crosslet fitche of the first.
Crest
An African elephant with trunk elevated proper.
Motto
Si Ye Pambili (Let us go forward, or, we go forward).
Notes
The shield is divided in two by a chevron. In the upper half on a background of red (to signify bloodshed) are three rock rabbits in gold. The rock rabbits or imbila is the totem (isibongo) of the Khumalo, the royal family in the Matabele. The imbila symbolises the Matabele nation. In the lower half a cross-crosslet is a Christian emblem specially selected and used in the arms to symbolise European impact on the Matabele by the missionaries, the first settlers. The rock rabbits and the cross-crosslet conjure up the historical background.
The crest
Stylises the elephant for heraldic purposes; the elephant being the emblem used by Lobengula, the last King of the Matabele, in his royal seal, perpetuating his native title "Ndlovu" the elephant.
The Motto
In Sindebele, Si Ye Pambili, means "we go forward" or "let us go forward".
