The national emblem of

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

was adopted in 1990 in the Constitution of Mozambique article 194. The article clearly states the design and meaning of the device. It shows a

gear wheel A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called ''cogs''), which mesh with another (compatible) toothed part to transmit (convert) torque and speed. The basic p ...

, bordered by

corn Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

stalks and

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with ...

. In the middle there is a red sun over a map of Mozambique in green, and blue waves, an

AK-47 The AK-47, officially known as the ''Avtomat Kalashnikova'' (; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is a gas operated, gas-operated assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian s ...

crossed with a hoe, and a book. The wreath is tied with a ribbon bearing the name of the country. The emblem is " socialist heraldry" style similar to those of the

Soviet republics The Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the Union Republics ( rus, Сою́зные Респу́блики, r=Soyúznye Respúbliki) were national-based administrative units of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( ...

Description

As described in the Mozambican constitution article 194, 'The Constitution of The Republic of Mozambique'
/ref> the various parts of the emblem have a special symbolism, i.e. * the corn stalk and the sugar cane represent agricultural wealth * the cog wheel represents labor and industry * the book represents

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

* the hoe for "peasantry and

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

production" * the AK-47, with a bayonet attached, for "defense and vigilance" * the red star represents the spirit of international solidarity of the Mozambican people". * the red sun symbolizes the building of a new life From 1975-1982, the map of Mozambique was brown instead of green. Along with this change of colour, the position of the wreath was changed, the text was changed from black to gold, and a gold border was added around the red star. In 1990, with the implementation of the new constitution, the name of the country was changed from ''República Popular de Moçambique'' to ''República de Moçambique'', and the text on the emblem was changed accordingly. Mozambique's parliamentary opposition would specifically like to see removed the image of the

Kalashnikov assault rifle A Kalashnikov (Калашников) rifle is any one of a series of automatic rifles based on the original design of Mikhail Kalashnikov. They are officially known in Russian as "Avtomát Kaláshnikova" ( rus, Автома́т Кала́шник� ...

, which symbolizes the nation's struggle for independence, according to press reports.

Historical coats of arms

In 1935, the Portuguese colonies were officially assigned coats of arms that followed a standard design pattern. File:Escudo_Ilha_de_Moçmbique.svg, Early version of coat of arms File:Lesser coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa (Used until 1935).svg, Provisional coat of arms of

Portuguese East Africa Portuguese Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique) or Portuguese East Africa (''África Oriental Portuguesa'') were the common terms by which Mozambique was designated during the period in which it was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese Mozambique originally ...

in the 1930s. File:Coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa (1935-1951).svg, Coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa from May 8, 1935 to June 11, 1951. File:Coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa (1951-1975).svg, Coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa from June 11, 1951 to June 25, 1975. File:Lesser coat of arms of Portuguese East Africa.svg, Lesser coat of arms from May 8, 1935 to June 25, 1975. File:Coat of arms of Mozambique (1975-1982).svg, Coat of arms of the

People's Republic of Mozambique The People's Republic of Mozambique (Portuguese: ''República Popular de Moçambique'') was a socialist state that existed in present day Mozambique from 1975 to 1990. The People's Republic of Mozambique was established when the country gained ...

(1975–1982) File:Coat of arms of Mozambique (1982-1990).svg, Coat of arms of the People's Republic of Mozambique (1982–1990)

References

Article 194 The emblem of the Republic of Mozambique shall contain as its central elements a book, a gun and a hoe, superimposed on a map of Mozambique, representing, respectively, education, defense and vigilance, and the peasantry and agricultural production. Below the map the ocean shall be represented. In the center shall be the rising sun, symbol of the building of a new life. Enclosing all this shall be a toothed wheel, symbolizing labor and industry. Surrounding the toothed wheel there shall be, to the right and left respectively, an ear of maize and a piece of sugar cane, symbolizing agricultural wealth. At the bottom there shall be a red strip with the inscription "Republic of Mozambique."

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emblem Of Mozambique National symbols of Mozambique Mosambique