National Arms of Mozambique

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of Mozambique

NATIONAL ARMS OF MOZAMBIQUE

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The national emblem of Mozambique was adopted in 1975 and again in 1990. The difference is the removal of the word 'Popular' in the official name of the country.

The emblem shows a gear wheel, bordered by corn stalks and sugarcane. In the middle there is a red sun over a map of Mozambique in green, and blue waves, an AK-47 gun crossed with a hoe, and a book. The wreath is tied with a ribbon bearing the name of the country.

In 1935 the then Portuguese colony received its first official arms, based on the same structure as all Portuguese colonies. The upper right half and the bottom are identical for all colonies and show the 5 shields of the Portuguese National arms and the waves for the 'overseas' colonies. The upper left half differs between the colonies and for Mozambique seven bound arrows.
Already a similar design was used with a globe as asymbol for Mozambique, or Portuguese East Africa. Although these arms were officially used, I have no idea whether they were actually granted.

When in 1951 the colony was transformed into a province, the text on the banner was changed. The arms were abandoned at the independence in 1975.

The arms from Portuguese East Africa	The arms from 1935
The arms from 1951	The arms from 1975
Coin from 1936 with the colonial arms from before 1935	Coin with the present arms