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Zimbabwe

by Mark Sensen - 1997-11

Meaning of colors and symbols
History of Zimbabwe and its flags
Overview of the Flags of Southern Rhodesia/Rhodesia/Zimbabwe-Rhodesia/Zimbabwe

See also:

Meaning of colors and symbols

The green represents Country's vegetation and land resources
The yellow represents the country's mineral wealth
The red represents the blood spilt during the liberation struggle
The black represents the black majority
The Zimbabwe Bird is the National Emblem of Zimbabwe
White triangle for peace and the "way forward"
Red Star for internationalism (and reflects the ruling party's socialist credentials).

zeljko heimer - 1995-11-19 and
bruce berry - 1995-11-20

1900-1923

The land was administered from 1900 by the British South Africa Company.

1923-1953

by steven shea - 1996-08-15 and mark sensen - 1997-12-04

Rhodesia became a self-governing colony with responsible Government in 1923. What this meant was that there was a local parliament although some powers (notably relating to African political advancement) was retained by London. Southern Rhodesia (as it was called then) was ruled via the Dominions Office (and NOT the Colonial Office) although strictly speaking the country was not a Dominion (like Canada, Australia, South Africa etc.). This was a unique case.
bruce berry - 1995-11-20, 1996-03-14

According to Bruce Berry's excellent account [Flying in the Winds of Change Bruce B. Berry, The Flag Bulletin No. 163, March-April 1995] the status and usage of Southern Rhodesian flags from 1924-1937 was a bit of a mess, to say the least! But it appears that S. Rhodesia, when it used the blue ensign at all, used the shield of the territory without the white ring behind it, unlike other colonies. (For reasons which I'll be outlining, Rhodesia was a constitutional anomaly; neither dominion nor true colony) The two contemporary images I have are flatly contradictory. One (dated 1940) implies the circle, the other (c1937) doesn't.
stuart notholt - 1996-02-11

1923-c1937 British Union flag (although blue ensign flags also used)
c1937-1953 Blue ensign (although Union flag remained official)
stuart notholt - 1996-03-16

1953-1963

In 1953 Southern Rhodesia became part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

1964-1965

by steven shea - 1996-03-13 and mark sensen 1997-12-04

After the breakup of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (when Southern Rhodesia joined the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 - 1963) Northern Rhodesia became the independent republic of Zambia and Nyasaland became Malawi under African leadership during 1964. Rhodesia (having dropped the "Southern") wanted independence on the same lines but the British Government refused on the basis that not enough was being done regarding the political advancement of the Africans.
bruce berry - 1995-11-20, 1996-03-14

1965-1979

Consequently the white minority government of Ian Smith declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) on 11 November 1965. This was not recognised by any other country (incl. South Africa by the way!) and the following year Britain went to the UN and had mandatory sanctions imposed on the breakaway "rebel" colony. South Africa and Portugal (prior to 1975) did not comply with the UN embargo.

by steven shea - 1996-03-14 and mark sensen - 1997-12-04
To signify the severing of colonial links Rhodesia adopted a new flag on 11 November 1968 - being green, white and green with the national Arms in the centre of the white stripe. Rhodesia declared herself a republic on 2 March 1970, an act again not recognised by the UK which maintained it "legally" had control although de facto this was not the case.
bruce berry - 1995-11-20, 1996-03-14

Presidential Flag of that period :

by mark sensen - 1997-12-04

1979 (june - december)

African opposition to UDI and the white regime manifested itself through an increasing guerilla struggle waged from initially Zambia and then also from Mozambique. In 1978 the Rhodesian Government reached a compromise with "internal" African leaders resulting in first time universal suffrage elections in February 1979. This led to the establishment of a black led government under Bishop Abel Muzorewa and the formation of ZIMBABWE RHODESIA on 01 June 1979. As the external guerilla leaders were not accommodated the new state was not recognised (although Margaret Thatcher did her best!) and sanctions were maintained and the guerilla struggle continued. A new flag to reflect the changing political dipensation was hoisted on 2 september 1979.
bruce berry - 1995-11-20, 1996-03-14

by mark sensen - 1997-12-04

derived from a picture in Christian Fogd Pedersen's _Alverdend flag i farver_ (Dutch edition 1980)

1979 (december) - 1980 (february)

The new Zimbabwe Rhodesia government entered into negotiations with the external nationalists at Lancaster House held under the auspices of the British Government. This resulted in a ceasefire and the arrival of a British Governor (Lord Soames) on 12 december 1979. Rhodesia had reverted back to being a British Colony under direct control from London. Sanctions were lifted and legality restored. The Union Jack was restored, although in practise the ZR flag continued to fly. Under the supervision of the Commonwealth, further elections were held which resulted in victory for (externaly based guerilla nationalist) Robert Mugabe. On 18 April 1980 the new sovereign independent republic of Zimbabwe was born and the current Zimbabwe flag was adopted.

It was the Union Jack that became the flag of the "colony" in Dec 1979, although in practise the Zimbabwe Rhodesia flag continued to fly. This is the reason why it was the Union Jack that was lowered at the Independence ceremony and not the Southern Rhodesia light blue ensign. (see my article in The Flag Bulletin No. XXIV:2/163 - March-April 1995).
bruce berry - 1995-11-20, 1996-03-14

Overview of the Flags of Southern Rhodesia / Rhodesia / Zimbabwe-Rhodesia / Zimbabwe

1900-1923 Flag of the British South African Company
1923-c1937 British Union flag (although blue ensign flags also used)
c1937-1953 Blue ensign (although Union flag remained official)
1953-1963 Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (alongside Union Flag)
1964-1968 Light blue ensign
1968-1979 green-white-green Rhodesian flag
1979 Zimbabwe-Rhodesia flag
Dec 1979-Feb 1980 British Union flag
1980 Current Zimbabwean flag

stuart notholt - 1996-03-16