Flag of Zambia

Flag of Zambia
	; ;
Vexillological symbol :	?
Aspect ratio:	2: 3
Officially accepted:	October 24, 1964, ; changed color in 1996

The flag of Zambia was officially introduced on Independence Day, October 24, 1964. The national flag was designed by Gabriel Ellison , OGDS, MBE.

meaning

The colors come from the United National Independence Party . They have the following meanings:

Green stands for the fields and forests that take up the largest area of the national territory
Orange symbolizes the mineral treasures, especially copper
Black is the skin color of the population
Red is a reminder of the struggle to achieve freedom

The fish eagle lives on the Zambezi , from whose name the name Zambia is derived. It represents the pursuit of higher goals and the ability of the nation to overcome problems.

history

Although Northern Rhodesia , as Zambia was called as a colony, already had a coat of arms, only the British Union Jack was used as a flag until 1939 . Then the typical British colonial flag was used: a dark blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper corner ( Blue Ensign ) and the colonial coat of arms in the flying end. The coat of arms showed a golden fish eagle with a silver fish in its claws on a light blue background above six silver waves on a black background, which symbolize the Victoria Falls. A modification of the coat of arms is still in use today.

Between 1953 and 1963 Northern Rhodesia was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland together with Southern Rhodesia (today: Zimbabwe ) and Nyasaland ( Malawi ) . The new coat of arms showed a golden, rising sun on a blue background for Nyassaland, the red lion for Southern Rhodesia and the silver waves on a black background for Northern Rhodesia. The federation collapsed on December 31, 1963 when Zambia and Malawi gained independence from Great Britain.

Until 1996, Zambia used a flag with a darker green.