Flag of Zimbabwe

Flag of Zimbabwe is an important national symbol that is introduced, taught and inculcated in kids just entering the school system. Introduced on the 18th of April 1980 the Zimbabwe flag protected by the Flag of Zimbabwe Act a law that severely pernalises "any person who burns, mutilates or otherwise insults the Flag or a flag which resembles or is intended to resemble the Flag or any reproduction thereof, in circumstances which are calculated or likely to show disrespect." The person "shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years."

As shown in the picture, the flag has 5 distinct colors that the Zimbabwe people have come to be familar with mostly those who are literate. These are as folows;

• Green: represents Zimbabwe agriculture the backbone of the Zimbabwe economy
  
• Yellow: the vast wealth of minerals in the country including gold, diamonds, coal, gas etc
  
• Red: the blood shed during the war of the liberation that ended in 1980
  
• Black:  black indeginous people in Zimbabwe and their majority rule
  
• White:  generally represents reconciliation. Specifically the vertical white stripe represents the white community in Zimbabwe while the central horizontal white stripe represents peace
• Stone bird - representation of Great Zimbabwe - house of stone-  in Masvingo Zimbabwe.
  

The flag of Zimbabwe is used during state functions, official government buildings, schools and other semi-state institutions. For many Zimbabweans, the Zimbbabwe  flag is a strong reminder of Zanupf mis-rule under Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. For this reason private individuals rarely hoist the flag on their private properties unless they are strongly linked to the ruling party.

This is partly because the Zanu PF  party flag carries the same colors as the national flag. Secondly the history of Zimbabwe of impumity and human rights abuses has caused the flag to be disassociated with patrotism but political and economic abuse.

It is likely that in the future more and more Zimbabweans will find the Zimbabwe flag a true national symbol of patriotism and freedom as the political dispensation changes. The opposition party MDC under Morgan Tsvangirai now in the inclusive government have often made an attempt to separate national symbols of significance like this flag from Zanu PF.

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