Flag of Zimbabwe

What the flag means

A 1983 Ministry of Information leaflet explains the flag: green for farming and vegetation, yellow for mineral wealth, red for the blood spilt in the liberation struggle, black for the black majority, and the white triangle for peace. The bird is the national emblem.

History

The colours come from the flag of ZANU-PF. Flight Lieutenant Cedric Herbert suggested adding the Zimbabwe Bird, and Prime Minister-elect Robert Mugabe approved the final design on 25 March 1980. The flag was raised at independence on 18 April 1980.

Two versions are in common use. Many flags made abroad show a flattened bird on an uneven star, copied from a poorly drawn government illustration of April 1980.

Earlier flags of Zimbabwe

1. c. 1924–1968British Blue Ensign with the shield of the Southern Rhodesian arms
2. 1968–1979Green, white and green vertical stripes with the Rhodesian coat of arms
3. 1979Zimbabwe Rhodesia flag with a yellow bird on a black vertical stripe

Flags of Zimbabwe's neighbours

• Botswana
• Mozambique
• South Africa
• Zambia