Zimbabwe (English pronunciation: /zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/ zim-BAHB-we; officially the Republic of Zimbabwe and formerly Southern Rhodesia, the Republic of Rhodesia, and Zimbabwe Rhodesia) is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three official languages: English, Shona (a Bantu language), and Ndebele (also a Bantu language).
Zimbabwe began as a part of the British crown colony of Rhodesia. President Robert Mugabe is the head of State and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Morgan Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister. Mugabe has been in power since the country's long war for independence. Although initially during the 1980s his administration was credited with improving the standard of living and the economy, his rule has been characterized by gross economic mismanagement, hyperinflation, and reports of human rights abuses.[4] The collapse of the nation's economy and widespread poverty and unemployment has increased support for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, which in late 2008 agreed to share power with Mugabe.
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.
