National Symbols

The Flag
The Tanzania flag has four colours: Green, Gold, Black and Blue: divided diagonally by a (gold)yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue.

Colours' Significance:
Black=the People
Green=the Land
Blue=the Adjoining Sea
Gold=the Mineral Wealth

The Emblem (Nembo)
vThe central feature of the Coat of Arms is the Warrior?s Shield which bears a Golden portion on the upper part followed underneath by the United Republic flag of Green, Golden, Black and Blue; and a red portion under which are wavy bands of blue and white.

The Golden portion represents minerals in the United Republic; the red portion underneath the flag symbolises the fertile red soil of Africa; while the wavy bands represent the land, sea, lakes and coastal lines of the United Republic.

The Shield is set upon a representation of Mount Kilimanjaro. On each side of the Shield there is an elephant tusk supported by a man on the left and a woman on the right symbolising both the theme of co-operation and gender and equality of the people of Tanzania. At the feet of the man is a clove bush and at the feet of the woman is a cotton bush symbolising agriculture in the Republic. Superimposed features on the Shield are flames of a burning torch which signifies freedom, enlightenment and knowledge, a spear signifying defence of freedom; and crossed axe and hoe being tools that the people of the United Republic use in developing the country.

The Uhuru Torch
The Uhuru Torch symbolises freedom and light. It was first lit on top of mount Kilimanjaro (5,890m) in 1961, symbolically to shine the country and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enmity and respect where there is hatred. Yearly there is the Uhuru Torch race, starting from different prominent places in the Republic.
vThe United Republic motto: "Uhuru na Umoja" = Freedom and Unity, is written in Kiswahili, the National Language of Tanzania.