Coat of Arms of Botswana

The Coat of Arms of Botswana was adopted on January 25, 1966. The center shield is supported by two zebras. The shape of the shield is that of traditional shields found in East Africa. On the top portion of the shield are three cogwheels that represent industry.

The three waves symbolize water, and point to the motto of the nation: pula that means simply "rain". This highlights the importance of water to Botswana as well, and the motto is found at the below the coat of arms on a blue banner.

At the bottom of the shield is the head of a bull, and this symbolizes the importance of cattle herding to Botswana. The two zebras are present since zebras are an important part of Botswanas wildlife. The zebra on the left holds an ear of sorghum, an important crop in the nation. The zebra on the left holds a tusk of ivory, symolic of the former ivory trade in Botswana.