Flag of Rhodesia

The Flag of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) changed many times as a result of political changes in the country.

Prior to 1953, the then Southern Rhodesia followed British colonial practice, by using a Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton and the shield from the colony's coat of arms in the fly.

In 1953, Southern Rhodesia federated with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The flag of that federation was used until 31 December 1963 when the federation was dissolved. Less than a year after the break-up of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland became independent as Zambia and Malawi. Southern Rhodesia became known simply as Rhodesia. Rhodesia's flag was changed to a lighter shade of blue. It was the only time the lighter shade of blue was used under British rule, although Fiji and Tuvalu both adopted the colour after independence.

Following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence on November 11, 1965, the flag was retained, but three years later it was replaced by a green and white flag (similar to that of Nigeria) with the full coat of arms in the centre. On March 2, 1970, the country was declared a republic. Throughout this time, Britain refused to recognise Rhodesia's self-rule and maintained that the light-blue ensign was the official flag of the country.

In 1979, the country became known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and a new design was adopted later that year, featuring the pan-African colours of red, black, yellow and green, and the Zimbabwe Bird. However, under the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement, the country briefly returned to British rule, and it was the Union Flag that was lowered during the independence ceremony on April 18, 1980.

Official description

The following was published as a supplement to the Government Gazette issued on Friday 9 August, 1968.
1968 Flag of Rhodesia No. 40 / p. 285
Rhodesia Act
To provide for the adoption of a national flag for Rhodesia; to provide for the making of regulations to restrict or control the application to any goods of a reproduction of such flag; to amend section 16 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1957, and to provide for matters incidental to the foregoing.
BE IT ENACTED by His Excellency the Officer Administering Government as representative of the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Rhodesia, as follows: -
1. This Act may be cited as the Flag of Rhodesia Act, 1968.
2. The Flag of Rhodesia shall be a flag consisting of three vertical stripes of equal width, green, white and green, on which there appears in the centre of the white stripe the coat of arms of Rhodesia, with -
(a) the length of the flag equal to twice the width of the flag; and
(b) the coat of arms of Rhodesia equal in height to three-fifths of the heights of the flag.
3. The Minister of Justice shall cause a copy of the Flag of Rhodesia to be prepared and deposited in the National Archives of Rhodesia established in terms of the National Archives Act, 1963 (No. 76 of 1963).
4. (1) Where, in the opinion of the Officer Administering the Government, it is necessary to regulate and control the use of the Flag of Rhodesia in order that it is not used for purposes which, in his opinion, are improper he may make such regulations restricting, regulating or controlling the application to any goods or the importation into Rhodesia of any goods to which there has been applied a reproduction of the Flag of Rhodesia or of a flag which resembles or is intended to resemble the Flag of Rhodesia as he may consider to be necessary or expedient for the purpose.
(2) Regulations made in terms of subsection (1) may provide for penalties for any contravention thereof, including provision for the forfeiture of any goods to which a reproduction of the Flag of Rhodesia or of a flag which resembles or is intended to resemble the Flag of Rhodesia has been applied or which have been imported in contravention of such regulations:Provided that no such penalty shall exceed a fine of five hundred pounds or imprisonment for period of two years, excluding the value of any goods forfeited.
5. Any person who burns, mutilates or otherwise insults the Flag of Rhodesia or a flag which resembles or is intended to resemble the Flag of Rhodesia or any reproduction thereof in circumstances which are calculated or likely to show disrespect for the Flag of Rhodesia or to bring the Flag of Rhodesia into disrepute shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.
6. Section 16 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1957 is amended, in subsection (1), by repeal of subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (b).
Coloured sheet [http://www.fotw.net/Flags/zw-rhod.html Flags of the World]

References

ee also

* Flag of Zimbabwe
* Flags of Rhodesia 1896-1979
* Flag of the Governor of Southern Rhodesia