Coat of arms of Lesotho | |
Middle: | Coat of arms of Lesotho (1966–2006).svg |
Middle Width: | 150 |
Middle Caption: | 1966–2006 |
Armiger: | Letsie III, King of Lesotho |
Year Adopted: | 4 October 2006 |
Compartment: | The summit of Thaba Bosiu |
Motto: | Khotso, Pula, Nala "Peace, Rain, Prosperity" |
The coat of arms of Lesotho was adopted on 4 October 2006, after Lesotho's 40th anniversary of independence. Pictured is a crocodile on a Basotho shield. This is the symbol of the dynasty of Lesotho's largest ethnicity, the Bakoena. Behind the shield there are two crossed weapons, an assegai (lance) and a knobkierie (club). To the left and right of the shield are supporters of the shield, two Basotho horses. In the foreground there is a ribbon with the national motto of Lesotho: Khotso, Pula, Nala (Sesotho, to English: Peace, Rain, Prosperity). The crocodile on the shield has been retained from the arms of Basutoland, the predecessor to Lesotho.
The colony of Basutoland was granted a coat of arms on 20 March 1951. These arms depicted a crocodile and featured the motto KHOTSO KE NALA (Peace is Prosperity).