Swakopmund (Namibia)

Last modified: 2014-02-15 by bruce berry
Keywords: namibia | swakopmund |
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image by Jens Pattke, 19 Apr 2009

• Swakopmund

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• Namibia
• Namibia : national index
• Ongwediva
• Walvis Bay
• Windhoek

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is located on the coast of western Namibia in the Namib Desert and is the administrative capital of the Erongo district.

The Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reports that the shield on the Coat of Arms of Swakopmund in Namibia has been changed.  The old Arms of Swakopmund had a shield in the former German Empire colours of black-white-red. This shield has been replaced with the present Namibian national flag. The three-thorn bush has also been changed to the Welwitschia plant which is also featured on the Namibian coat of arms.  The rest of the detail remains the same.

image by Jens Pattke, 19 Apr 2009
 

The Namibian newspaper reports:

The Swakopmund Town Council has decided to give the town a new coat of arms "to keep up with the times".  Swakopmund Municipality CEO Eckart Demasius says the changes include replacing the three-thorn bush with a Welwitschia, while the black, white and red colours representing the German imperial flag will make place for the Namibian flag.  Although the council has approved the concept, it still needs refining and approval by the local heritage committee, according to Demasius.  "Hopefully we'll have it displayed publicly within this year, but it will take some time". 

He said the three-thorn bush represented the three "colonial languages" - German, Afrikaans and English.  The Welwitschia, on the other hand, symbolises the beauty and uniqueness of Swakopmund - its two leaves depicting equal opportunity and equal rights. "It also shows the beauty and uniqueness of Namibia's and Swakopmund's diversity in tradition and culture, something the three-thorn bush fails to expound on," he said.

What will not change is the German castle - an obvious landmark in town - the Swakopmund lighthouse and the slogan 'Providentiae Memor' (Mindful of Providence). Demasius said once the new design was approved by the heritage committee and that the mayoral chain and stationery would have to be replaced.
Jens Pattke, 19 Apr 2009