Zenica

Earliest findings in the Zenica place date from the period 3,000 B.C. to 2,000 B.C.;[7] they were found on the localities of Drivuša and Gradišće.[7] The following findings are from the Metal Age in Orahovički stream near Nemila, Gračanica, Ravna and other places;[7] metal axes, arrows, ornamental fibulae and ceramic remains were unearthed here.[7]

Illyrians came to this region on the transition from Bronze to Iron Age (from 6th to 5th century B.C.).[7] Their defensive buildings 'gradinas' are the most famous (the name came from the verb – Serbo-Croatian: graditi – to build).[7]

The urban part of today's Zenica has already formed in the younger Stone Age – Neolithic, and especially later in the time of Illyrians – today, toponyms of their 'gradinas' are proof for that:[7] Gradišće, Gračanica, Gradac.[7] A specific locality 'Gradina' in Kopilo village indicates that Zenica and surrounding farther places had organized prehistoric human life about 2,000 years B.C.[11] There is a weak[11] question of the presence of the Illyrian Old-Balkan tribe Daesitiates in Zenica region.[7] Solution can be direct proofs from toponomastic material – such as the toponym 'Gradina' which survived until today in the names of the mentioned settlements Gradac, Gradišće and Gračanica.[7] Daesitiates are a result of ethnic-social development of the mentioned early human life in prehistory; the transition period from the Bronze to the Iron Age resulted with Daesitiates emerging at the Lašva–Drina rivers belt. The tribe Daesitiates confronted the Romans in 34 B.C.; the Romans did not make a long-lasting triumph, and the Illyrians were defeated in the city of Arduba, which was burnt down in 6–9 A.C.[11] That is how the royal city of Vranduk probably existed in the time of Illyrians, under the name Arduba.[7][11]

Recent (August 2019) international archaeological research, conducted by the Vienna (Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology), Zenica (Zenica museum) and Sarajevo students and scientists using modern technology, shows that settlements with people and animals were near Zenica over 3,100 years ago.[12] Skeletons of pigs, cattle, and goats were found in Kopilo, an elevated place (600 m a.s.l.), indicating that humans (farmers) then lived there; two tombs (one with human bones and ceramics), two tumuli and a completely new prehistorical settlement 'Ravna gradina' were found, too.[12][13][14][15]

Romans had tried to conquer these parts from the very end of the 3rd century B.C. Bellum Batonianum from 6th to 9th century was present in this area too. The Romans ruled continuously in many areas almost until the end of the 4th century (after Arduba's fall).[11] Roman authority did not remove (i.e. rebuild, change) settlements in the Illyrian 'gradinas'.[7]

Today's area of Zenica had its peak in the first six centuries of the new era, when in parts of today's Zenica – aside from Bistua Vetus (the barbarians' village in Rama) and Delminium (Duvanjsko Field) – one of the three most important municipiums and centers of Christian dioceses in Bosnia has been found: Bistua Nuova – seat of the Bistuenska diocese,[16] the seat of Roman Christianity in the Bosnian area prior to the Slavs' arrival.[17] Information that Bistua Nuova's bishop Andrew (Andreas, Andrija) took part in and was a signer of Solin sinodas in 530 and 533 underlines its importance. Ancient tombstone monuments are from ancient Bistua Nuova, as well as remains of old Christian basilica etc.[16] In the urban settlement of Odmut, and rural settlements of Putovići and Tišina, archaeologists found various findings; epigraphs stand out by their importance, which guided them towards the conclusion that Bistua Nuova was in the Zenica area.[7] It is not excluded that Bistua Nuova was right at the place of today's Zenica,[17] and/or was just named municipium Bistua Nuova.[11] Anyway, the Zenica region was known settlement at this point in the history, as numerous proofs of Roman-era Zenica exist.[11]

An important road towards Salona (Solin), Argentarium (Srebrenica) and Sirmium (Srijemska Mitrovica) was passing through Bistua Nuova.[6]

Barbarian invasions from the north (mainly Germans at the end of 3rd century, as well as Slavs later)[11] stopped civilization continuity and shortly forced Christianity to retreat from these areas. During the invasions, at the beginning of the 7th century, Bistua Nuova was destroyed, along with its basilica. Four centuries of emptiness in the wells follow after the retreat of Christianity.[6] It is believed that the barbarian invasions destroyed a huge part of the ancient inheritance. Goths, Avars and Slavs passed through this location. Slavs came in 6th and 7th centuries, and inhabited the middle part of Bosna river stream – where Zenica Field is located, site of some of the most important historic events of medieval Bosnia; these Slavs formed tribal communities and were organized into a tribal ruling unit called a 'župa' (parish).[11] After their invasions, almost one century was needed for first Slav countries to form.[7]

Picture from the middle of the 19th century, of the author Carl Ebert (1821–1885), Fortress Vranduk in Bosnia (German: Die Festung Vranduk in Bosnien; in the picture there are Bosnians shown on the mountain of Vranduk beside river Bosna)

The history of medieval Zenica is not well recorded.[8][9] There is but a single item of evidence from 1244 about Croatian-Hungarian king Béla IV's charter. According to the documents that have been studied until so far, the city's current name was first mentioned on 16 March 1436[11] (or 20 March 1436,[8][9][10] annually celebrated as 'Zenica Day') and later – Zenica is mentioned in a series of documents related to Republic of Ragusa (Republic of Dubrovačka).[10][8] Among other Bosnian parishes, Bored parish, which includes the place "Bilina poila" is mentioned in the charter; the place refers to one part of the town Zenica, today well known Bilino polje.[11] The same place is mentioned in another document, dated 8 April 1203; it records a group of Bogomil chiefs who renounced paternalism before Innocent III's court chaplain John of Casamaris.[11] Bogomilism's presence in the Zenica area and its status as a seat of the Bogomil Church is supported not only by written documents but also by headstones which illuminate the Church's hierarchy.[11]

In the period of Middle Ages, in 1370 more precisely, settlement Klopče was mentioned, as well as family of that name; on 8 January 1404, the Bosnian bishop from Janjići sent dispatches to the Ragusan prince Vlaho Sorkočević. In the Zenica settlement of Varošište, a medieval church has been unearthed and Franciscan monastery of St. Mary, which was built by sculptor Ivan Hrelić, a student of Juraj Dalmatinac.[10][8]

Time of the political independence of the Middle Ages Bosnia is directly connected to Zenica, before all with Gradješa's plate and act of abjuration, by which Kulin ban's time was continued and it denotes facts of political power, too. Near the fortified city of Vranduk, the seat of Bosnian kings, Janjići and homes of the bishops of the Bosnian Church, with stećci in Puhovac and Pojske, several scribes and builders – among other – are the facts and proofs of a special significance of this place in the Middle Ages. Also with its names (Bistua Nuova, Bilino polje, Brod) – and Zenica after March 1436, this city is tied for central part of the country and river Bosna.[10][8]

View of the Sejmenska mosque, the second oldest[18][19][20] Zenica mosque, included among the national monuments of BiH; it originates from Ottoman period, and according to the people's oral tradition it was built by an officer of Janissaries infantry (Persian word segban itself denotes adherents to this army)[21]

Bosnia had suffered Ottoman incursions, starting in 1386. The first Turkish entry into Zenica relates to their win over Hungarian warriors near Doboj in 1415.[11] Zenica has been mentioned under today's name since that event.[11] The first official record of the city's name is in the document dated 16 March 1436;[11] the document relates to the invasion and robbery of Hum done by the Ottoman Duke Barak who retreated towards Zenica and there received Ragusan money in the name of redemption.[11] Since that event until complete establishment of Ottomans in Bosnia (1463) there are no obtainable mentions of Zenica in relevant documents; that is a reason why this era in the city's history cannot be reasonably covered in detail.[11]

After administrative changes introduced in the first years of the rule, Zenica became part of Brod kadiluk in the newly formed Sanjak of Bosnia. Nahya of Zenica was first mentioned in 1485; it bore that name until the end of 18th century; it later became Zenica srez but had still been mentioned as nahya in Ottoman documents as Zenica was the most important place of Brod in 18th and 19th centuries.[11]

In the times of Ottoman rule (1463–1878), the change of the direction of the main trade route[11] in turn changed the city[8][9] and except for a short period when it was a seat of Brod judge 'kadija' (until 1557) Zenica was a kasaba (small town),[11] again with characteristic lookalike made by several mosques (Sultan Ahmedova, known as Čaršijska camii, too; Osman-Čelebijina; Sejmenska; Jalijska), Madrasah (1737), several maktabs, various nishans (a type of Bosnian Muslim gravestone), shadirvans, inns, caravansaries, etc.[10][8]

In one description from 1697 Zenica is discussed – where melons grow successfully "and whole place is very tame". According to the presumptions, Zenica had 2,000 citizens, among which Muslims dominated; at the end of 18th century Orthodox and Catholic Christians are mentioned again, and in the 19th century Jews.[10][8]

After the ruin and exodus following the intrusion of Eugene of Savoy in 1697, a time of stabilization begins for Zenica, and in administrative, urban, business and topographic sense Zenica čaršija stands out with its characteristic marks.[10][8]

After the Berlin Congress, held in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was given the rights to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina; armed resistance to occupying troops soon arose. It is believed that exactly Zenica, more precisely the Hadži Mazića house, was the place of negotiations between the representatives of the Ottoman authorities in the Bosnian vilayet, Hafiz-pasha and the commander of the Austro-Hungarian occupying forces, General Filipović, on the conditions of the cessation of the conflict.[8]

A narrow-gauge railway train

Capital objects of wider social-economic importance were built; they became important for Zenica. They include the railway from Bosanski Brod to Zenica (1879), the coal mine (1880),[11] the paper factory (1885), the ironworks (1892; in 1899 became d.d.),[11] and the penitentiary (1886). In 1908 a power station was built in Zenica, which enabled the introduction of electric public lighting. State schools were also opened, the first in 1885, and the second in 1910; in this period in Zenica there were also confessional schools, one for the Catholic and Orthodox churches, and for three maktabs, madrasahs and rozdios ('ruždija'); Muhamed Seid Serdarević, the muallim (teacher) in the Sultan Ahmed Madrasah in Zenica, advocated for the reform of the teaching, where the lectures began to be conducted in the local language and the program modernized in accordance with the requirements of the time. Cultural societies were organized, on a strictly national-confessional basis, such as the Croatian Singing Society, Zvečaj, the Czech Word and others; at the same time, other societies of general character are established, such as firefighters, hunters, mountaineers and others. In 1910 the first cinema, called Helios, was opened in Zenica, which raised the city culture to a new level. This will, aside from other things, cause a series of changes – both qualitative and quantitative shifts in the city's development.[9][10][8][11]

Catholic St. Elijah Church in New Zenica, building of which began in 1909; it was declared a national monument of BiH; building style is secession, and church has three bells and main altar from 1837 (first parish is from 1870)

Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Our Lady on Carina, building of which began in 1883; it was declared a national monument of BiH; this is a three-nave church; it was finished and dedicated on the Nativity Period i.e. during 8–21 September 1885, and was dedicated by Metropolitan Sava Kosanović

By the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century, urbanization was underway and the number of citizens increased several fold, according to the 1910 census in this place there were 7,215 men and women. The rapid growth was reflected by a construction boom: Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in 1885, two Catholic churches in 1910, a synagogue in 1903 and the buildings of several lodgings for the night, hotels, schools, water supply, modern roads, etc.[10][8]

After World War I, the Kingdom of SHS was formed, which in 1929 became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia; Bosnia and Herzegovina belonged to these countries. The political, economic and social life of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1918 to 1941 stagnated, although the situation changed slightly before the beginning of World War II, when certain investments in Ironworks Zenica came.[8]

20th century in Zenica is generally marked with series of different characteristic phenomena, increased industrialization, especially after 1938 with Harsh railway (Gruba pruga) being built, the pauperization of the part of the citizenry, its proletarization, as well as mixing of advanced urban European and still domestic Bosnian mentality and habits.[10][8]

Specific-functions-and-purposes city develops, especially bordered with two facts – Penitentiary and Ironworks Zenica – but also precious confirmation of the coexistence of the Zenicans with different histories; the stone bridge has connected house of Kosta Jefić and Osmanaga Mehmedić, and Jewish Havra, for over 90 years.[10][8]

In the period between 1941 and 1945, domestic people (mostly Muslims, by declaration of the famous Resolution of Zenica Muslims from May 1942)[22][23] show evident effort to retain respect and consideration as well as protection of bare life from non-Muslims,[22] through formation of their authentic sign, Muslim militias – in Šerići, Doglodi, Babino –, and through partisan units, what gave and had certain demands and weight.[24][8]

It was a dimension of Zenica way to have anti-fascist resistance; this city had no major destruction, terror and victims. The dimension of the anti-fascist struggle were determined by their nationalist) ideology – which surfaced during the war and declined after the war.[25][26][27][8]

After liberation of Zenica achieved by partisans on 12 April 1945 (Zenica Liberation Day),[26] the city started to grow rapidly – as a quickly developed industrial center. It expanded and included the former villages of Bilino Polje, Klopče and Radakovo; new flat blocks were built for more numerous coalminers and workers in the steelworks. Number of citizens in 1948 was only about 15,000, and by 1961 it grew up to over 30,000; in year 1981, there was over 63,000 citizens in Zenica, and after the last Yugoslavian census made in Yugoslavia – Zenica was city with over 96,000 citizens. For the time of the Yugoslavian period, which has lasted for about 50 years, the population increased sixfold.[28]

Part of the Old town at night

One year before the outbreak of the Bosnian War, in 1991, Zenica became the seat of one of the first private and independent radio stations in Eastern Europe – Radio CD-CEMP.[29] In the spring of 1993, journalist and owner of the Radio CD-CEMP, won a Belgian accolade for independent journalism – "The Pen Of Peace".[30]

Memorial stone and plaque for Matea Jurić, with flowers laid in front (2020)

The first official civilian victim of the Bosnian War in Zenica was a two-year-old Croat girl Matea Jurić (29 July 1990 – 13 May 1992), who was killed by a gunshot during the blockade of the military barrack of JNA in the urban settlement of Bilimišće. Today, meeting to remember Jurić is traditionally organized in Radakovo, where she has a memorial panel next to which flowers are lain.[31]

On 19 April 1993, during the Croat–Bosniak War, 16 civilians were killed and 50, injured, when a HVO howitzer-fired grenade hit the central bazaar of Zenica.[32] The grenade was shot from the village of Putićevo [15 km (9.3 mi)]. A total of six grenades hit the target, three series of two.[33] During this period Zenica was isolated from the rest of the world for a year and a half. The city suffered significant loss of the civic society from sniper fire, arson and hunger. The fourth-biggest city of BiH had neither water nor electricity.[34]

During the war, an economic meeting ZEPS was still organized.[7]

Zenica's populace changed much during the war, with the arrival of Muslims (today's Bosniaks) from other parts of BiH and the departure of Serbs to areas under Serb control.[35]

• Historical images of Zenica
• 
  Bosanska Vila article (1890) on Fatih Mehmed's conquest of Gradišće and Vranduk in 1463
• 
  Vranduk Fortress panorama (1895)
• 
  Zenica workers strike (1896), one (aside from 1898) before Chicago's in 1905
• 
  Dorfleben (Village Life; 1903), watercolor by Richard Conrad Kromar (1874–1948)
• 
  Tripartite postcard (1907)
• 
  Čaršija of Kočeva street (postcard; 1909)
• 
  King's birthday, King Peter I street (today's Titova; retouched postcard, 1928)
• 
  Ričice mosque inauguration (1928)
• 
  People's gathering in front of Catholic Church of St. Elijah on a holy day (1932)
• 
  Southern Zenica, downtown near Bosna (1935)
• 
  Bombing of the "Pehare" railway bridge by 16 Squadron SAAF (1944)
• 
  Zenican girls occupied Sarajevska street (1958)
• 
  Panoramic view of the Ironworks (postcard; 1964)
• 
  Part of the "Kameni spavač [Stone Sleeper] – Mak Dizdar" monument's vitreous memorial with names of thousands of Zenicans, victims of the Bosnian War (2019)

Zenica recovers from the war and continues to slowly progress. The ruling party in the City of Zenica for 20 years was the majority Bosniak and Muslim Party of Democratic Action (SDA), for which i.e. time of its mayors the development of the settled place Zenica / city of Zenica (its urban core but also other villages as the part of then Municipality) advanced slowly, partly because of corruption and various types of misappropriation;[36][37][38] many areas of the populated place itself did not get city lights, water supply and canalization and solidly asphalted roads even after 20 years.[39]

The drastic population decrease was seen from 1991 to 2013 and it is ≈26% (Zenica lost one quarter of its citizens, partly because of the War, partly because of unfavorable economic circumstances in BiH and recessions prompting young and middle-aged residents to emigrate to Europe and America).[28][5]

Violent protests 2014, Zenica

Municipality building, side view

Municipality building, front view

Smashed RMK building, front view

Cars in Kočeva river and arson next to the RMK

In 2014, Zenica – as well as other FBiH cities – saw violent citizen protests. The Municipality Building was smashed, RMK buildings also demolished, tens of people taken to the cantonal hospital and some officials resigned.[40]

Municipality of Zenica was recategorised on 20 November 2014 as the City of Zenica.[41]

2016 Bosnian-Herzegovinian municipal elections made independent politician (Fuad Kasumović) a Zenica mayor for the first time in the recent city history.[42] During the three years of his term he accelerated development, focused on the city's core i.e. settled place Zenica;[43] for the locations of priority importance, the city introduced city lights and water supply with canalization, road asphalting and transport improvement (bicycle lanes and stands for bicycles were introduced for the first time in Zenica's history on a mass scale, and since October 2019[44] also nextbike system[45] which 200 cities in the world have, but in BiH only Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Zenica have), plans for introducing a new heating system for the city are being made (Zenicans regularly face total turnoff or weak output of heating during the season, especially when it is coldest),[46] New Year's concerts began to be held on the main city square open for all citizens and visitors (the first one was in 2017/18 with Miligram making the show;[47] the second was in 2018/19 with Crvena jabuka) as the main act,[48] various new manifestations are organized for citizens and tourists (e.g. Zenica summer fest, music festival with domestic and regional stars that lasts for several weeks and takes place on the city square – the first was opened by Frenkie in the summer of 2018 and closed by Dubioza Kolektiv,[49] and Saša Kovačević opened the second in summer of 2019 and Željko Joksimović closed it;[50] artistic, trade and other bazaars and the like)[51][52][53][54][55] while the trade-economic fair with a long history ZEPS expands – thus improving tourist i.e. economic potential. These are all reasons because of which city has more visitors from all continents, of which it is significant to mention Africa and Asia. The issue of stray dogs in the urban core was handled,[56] pollution that culminated at the beginning[57] and in the mid-2010s was reduced significantly (Zenicans were used to a pink-red sky and stinky, polluted air especially during the nights of pollution),[58] public transport was improved (new buses, wi-fi etc.)... There are plans to resolve a huge problem of unemployment and to modernize the education system, build city underground garage,[59] as well as projects of warming the public city flat buildings with styrofoam facades.[60] Manifestation Čimburijada (Bosnian: čimbur – the local name for the scrambled eggs dish çılbır), that have been present for several decades in Zenica, took place in 2019, too, with video-broadcast on TV Zenica.[61]

Panorama of Zenica (spring 2015)

Relief of the City of Zenica is valley-basin. It is made up of a series of alluvial planes, hills, mountain passes and the like. The average altitude of the city itself surrounded by hills is 310–350 m (1,017–1,148 ft); however, there are many higher positions, such as Tvrtkovac, a hikers' destination of Zenicans, whose altitude is 1,304 m (4,278 ft). The Zenica basin extends from the canyon Lašva river in the south to the Vranduk canyon and Vranduk gorge in the north – of an average length of 35 km (22 mi) and with an average altitude of 700 m (2,300 ft).[62][9] Overview of the highest hills and mountains is given in the table below.[9]

The lowest parts in the relief context are along the river Bosna. As one moves towards east and west, altitudes increase; thus, northwestern and northeastern areas of the city are the highest.[9]

Zenica city is characterized by many small rivers and streams; all of them completely belong to the Bosna river basin.

River Bosna is the most important water flow in the Zenica area. Spring of the river Bosna in Ilidža, near Sarajevo, and mouth in the river Sava near Bosanski Šamac; thus, the river has a natural flow from south to the north, what is usually uncommon but characteristic for larger number of rivers in BiH.[63] Out of a total of 274 km (170 mi), which is the total length of the river Bosna, 47.95 km (29.79 mi) flows throughout the cityity. Along the river Bosna there are roads and railway built; also, most of the citizens is concentrated along river Bosna.[9]

Except Bosna, in the city itself there are flows of the rivers Lašva, Babina and Kočeva, and farther are Bistričak, Orahovička, Nemilska, Gračanička, Starinska and Džulanova rivers. The most significant streams are Tetovski, Zvečajski, Janjićki, Svitački and streams of Perin han I, Perin han II, Bukovica etc.[9]

In the Zenica City area, moderate continental climate prevails. Summers are hot and winters moderately cold. Mean annual temperature is 10.4 °C (50.7 °F), average annual precipitation 804 mm (31.7 in) and unevenly distributed during the year, provided that there are no exceptionally dry months (the lowest monthly precipitation is in March and the highest in November). The coldest month is January [average year minimum −1 °C (30 °F)] while July is the hottest [average year maximum 20.2 °C (68.4 °F)]. The lowest mean monthly temperature in Zenica was in January 1964 [−6.4 °C (20.5 °F); minimal −23.9 °C (−11.0 °F) in January 1963] and maximal mean monthly temperatures were registered in August 2003 [23.8 °C (74.8 °F); maximal 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) in August 2003]. Relative air humidity is 70% and cloudiness 6.1 tenths. Air pressure is 976.3 millibars. Zenica has one meteorological station; it was founded in 1925 and is located at an elevation of 344 m (1,129 ft) a.s.l.[9][64]

River Bosna
in the front: a railway, behind it the settlement of Jalija (right) and farther Bilimišće (left); in the back: Zenica hills – Krč rocks (right) and other (left)

Zenica's industry polluted and damaged the environment. After the Bosnian War, the main culprit for hard ecological state in Zenica, ironworks (today mostly converted into Arcelor Mittal, owned by Lakshmi Mittal), was incapacitated. However, a few years ago, the old steelworks partially resumed its operations, so because of these and other reasons the non-partisan, citizen organisation "Eko pokret Zenica" was founded in Zenica, and later the Greens of Bosnia and Herzegovina political party as well – with their seat in Zenica. In the city there is also "Eko-forum Zenica" as an acting organization.[65][66][67]

The Babina river basin was declared a nature park after their intercession. There are initiatives to create a dam on the Vranduk, what would cause ecological catastrophe. The Greens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and "Eko pokret" as well, are against this and advocate declaring Vranduk a national park.[65]

The regional depony [waste landfill] "Mošćanica" (RDM) d.o.o. Zenica is located between Mošćanica, Mutnica, Palinovići, Briznik, Arnauti, Ponihovo and Plavčići villages, southeast of Zenica city;[68] it collects all waste from Zenica and its vicinity; the Zenica waste management company – which moves garbage to "Mošćanica" and curates city parks, streets, etc. – is the German company Alba d.o.o.[69][70]

The urban part of Zenica consists of the following settlements – urban entireties:

The most common surname in Zenica is Delić (983 persons).[75] It is followed by Spahić (878),[75] and the most common BiH surname[76] – Hodžić[76] (815).[75] These are followed by Bajramović (701), Isaković (688), Imamović (669), Halilović (649), Beganović (643) and Šišić (566).[75] The previously mentioned surnames are borne by about 5.5% of the city's population.[75] Other common surnames are Arnaut, Babić, Bašić, Durmić, Fejzić, Pašalić, Mahmić, Kovačević and Alić.[75]

In Zenica-Doboj Canton, as of February 2020, most common surnames are (descending incidence, all with incidence >1,000 are listed):[77]

The City of Zenica (City) has a coat of arms and a flag, which are official for the populated place (city), too.[80][81][82][83]

The coat of arms is a square vertical rectangular field with half-circularly rounded bottom part framed with two lines, that have equal thickness and interspace. It has six elements shown with black lines of the same thickness. On the left side, following the frame of the coat of arms' field, the contour of the Bosna river can be seen, cut by two horizontal lines in the lower part – symbol of communication. In the remaining part of the coat of arms, there are four circular symbols (clockwise): the symbol of Vranduk – northern gate of the city; one of the six crosses from ban Kulin's plate, symbol of Christianity at the same time; crescent moon – symbol of Islam and Ottoman period; and crossed hammers – symbol of coalmining and heavy industry and indirectly symbol of Austro-Hungarian period, too. The field of the coat of arms is colored yellow and light green. Yellow covers the field until the upper two circle elements level and the rest of the field is green. The crescent moon in the lower part is yellow in the variant. The contour of the river is almost white.[80][81][82][83]

Zenica's flag's background is of same yellow and light green color as CoA has[80][81] (there is also a variant with background of white color).[84] Width vs length relationship is 1:2 (for white 3:7).[84][80][81][82][83] Flag needs not to be used vertically positioned in all its variants.[80][81] At the middle part there is uncolored coat of arms (only contours);[80][81][82][83] in the white variant CoA is colored.[84] The width of the coat of arms occupies around ​¹⁄₃ of the horizontal i.e. ​²⁄₃ of the width of the vertical flag,[80][81][82][83] and in the variant with white background[84] the height of the coat of arms occupies ​³⁄₇ of the vertical flag height.[84][80][81][82][83]

Usage

Conditions and the way of usage of the coat of arms of Zenica is regulated by a special decision of the Council (see admin structure right below).[80][82][83]

In the populated place Zenica there is seat of the Authority of the City of Zenica and seat of City of Zenica (Municipality until 2014); the Authority consists of a City Mayor (Municipality Mayor until 2014), the Council of the City of Zenica (Municipality Council until 2014) and City Attorney's Office (Municipality Attorney's Office until 2014).[85]

Abdulah Mutapčić (b. 1932),
24th mayor (1970–1974)

Fuad Kasumović (b. 1958),
36th mayor (2016–today)

For Zenica city role of importance is consequently mandated by City Mayor of Zenica City. Below is a list of former Zenica Mayors^1–36 +* and City Mayors**.

source: [86]

Scouts (Izviđači) are a children's and youth movement, and they accomplish their goals and programs with help of adult members of the organization.

Scouts mainly acquaint nature, make friendships (children socialization) and learn useful skills that can help in the future of the life – both in the civilized world and nature. The scout organization in Zenica marked in 2017 its 65th anniversary of continuous existence. Since its founding there have been about 100,000 young people with different orientations in the Zenica scout organization.[87][88]

Zenica Synagogue and Zenicans

There are several national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica, at the former Municipality's i.e. City from 2014. On the list of national monuments of BiH for Zenica there are following monuments: