View source for Flag of Zambia

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Zambia
| Image = Flag of Zambia.svg
| Nickname =
| Morenicks =
| Use = 111111
| Symbol = {{FIAV|normal}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = 24 October 1964
| Design = A green field with an orange coloured eagle in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes coloured from left to right in red, black and orange
| Designer = [[Gabriel Ellison]]
}}

The '''flag of [[Zambia]]''' was adopted upon independence on October 24, 1964. Before that, Zambia was the British protectorate of [[Northern Rhodesia]] and used a defaced [[Blue Ensign]] as its flag.

The current flag is used as both [[national flag]]<ref name="flag act">{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/National%20Flag%20and%20Armorial%20Ensigns%20Act.pdf | title=National Flag and Armorial Ensigns Act | publisher=Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of the Republic of Zambia| date=4 June 1965 | accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref> and [[ensign]].<ref name="shipping act">{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/acts/Merchant%20Shipping%20%28Temporary%20Provisions%29%20Act.pdf | title=Merchant Shipping (Temporary Provisions) Act | publisher=Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government of the Republic of Zambia| date=4 May 1969 | accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref> It is green with an orange-coloured [[African fish eagle]] in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes, coloured, from left to right: red, black and orange. The placement of the eagle and block of stripes at the flag's [[Fly (flag)|fly]] is notable as most emblems and devices on flags are placed at centre or at the hoist. The colours used in the flag of Zambia are rich in symbolism. Green stands for the nation's lush flora, red for the nation's struggle for [[Freedom (political)|freedom]], black for the Zambian people, and orange for the land's [[natural resources]] and [[mineral]] wealth. Additionally, the [[Eagle (heraldry)|eagle]] flying above the coloured stripes is intended to represent the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.<ref>[http://flagspot.net/flags/zm.html Zambia at Flags of the World]</ref>

The Zambian flag was slightly modified in 1996. The shade of green used in the 1964 flag was replaced with a brighter and lighter green and the eagle was slightly altered so as to be more like the one used in the [[Coat of arms of Zambia|Zambian coat of arms]].

==Design==
[[File:Flag of Zambia (construction).svg|thumb|300px|Construction sheet of the Zambian flag.]]
The design of the national flag of Zambia is described in National Flag and Armorial Ensigns Act of 4 June 1965.<ref name="flag act"/>

Green with an orange coloured eagle in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes coloured from left to right in red, black and orange; of overall dimensions 3:2; and to the following colour specifications:

*"Spectrum Green", [[British Colour Council]] Shade reference 100.
*"Union Jack Red", British Colour Council Shade reference 210.
*"Jet Black", British Colour Council Shade reference 220.
*"Spectrum Orange", British Colour Council Shade reference 57.

===Colours===

The green was adjusted in 1996 to a lighter and brighter green.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.times.co.zm/?p=7846 | title=Defaced Zambian flags should be replaced | publisher=Times of Zambia | date=4 February 2014 | accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref> In 2012 The [[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]] sent each country involved it's understanding of what the correct [[Pantone]] colours for their flag was. Once confirmed this was then published in a guide.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/32076/files/LOC2012_ITR1201_Flags_Manual_Supplement.pdf | title=Flags and Anthems Manual | publisher=London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games | date=2012 | accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref> The colours given were

{{color swatch |#009E49|'''PMS 355'''<br />Green<br /><small>Pantone</small>}}
{{color swatch |#EF3340|'''PMS 032'''<br />Red<br /><small>Pantone</small>}}
{{color swatch |#FCAD56|'''PMS 150'''<br />Orange<br /><small>Pantone</small>}}
{{color swatch |#000000|'''PMS'''<br />Black<br /><small>Pantone</small>}}
{{Clear}}

===Symbolism===

The flag's colours and emblems are rich in symbolism. Each of the four colours represents an aspect of Zambia: green for the country's natural resources and vegetation; red for its struggle for freedom; black for its people and orange for its mineral wealth (primarily copper). The eagle is an [[African fish eagle]], which also appears in the [[Coat of arms of Zambia|national coat of arms]] and represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/flag/ZA_flag.pdf | title=The World Factbook -Africa:Zambia - Flag | publisher=CIA | accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref>

==Flag protocol==
[[File:Lundazi Council.jpg|thumbnail|right|The flag flying outside the [[Lundazi]] Council building]]
By law, the Zambian flag should be flown only between the hours of sunrise and sunset and may be flown:
*at buildings or premises owned or occupied by the Government;
*at buildings or premises owned or occupied by local government authorities;
*at buildings or premises owned or occupied by any statutory board or statutory corporation;
*at state-aided schools; 
*on any motor car, boat or ship in or by which a Minister of Government is for the time being travelling;<ref name="flag act"/>
*on any ship registered as Zambian.<ref name="shipping act"/>

The flag is not allowed to be flown by any other individual or institution without express written permission from the Minister except on the following occasions:
*on the following public holidays, namely: Africa Freedom Day, [[Heroes Day#Heroes.27 Day in Zambia|Heroes Day]], Unity Day, and Independence Day; 
*on such other days or occasions as the Minister may declare for this purpose.<ref name="flag act"/>

==Historical flags==

===Company Rule===
{{Main|Company rule in Rhodesia}}
<gallery>
File:Flag of BSAC edit.svg|{{FIAV|111000}} {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of British South Africa Company (1890-1924)
</gallery>

===British Protectorate===
{{further|Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland}}
{{see also|Northern Rhodesia|Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland}}
<gallery>
File:Flag of Northern Rhodesia (1939-1953).svg|{{FIAV|111000}} {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of Northern Rhodesia (1924-1964)
File:Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.svg|{{FIAV|111000}} {{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, of which Northern Rhodesia was a part (1953-1963)
</gallery>

===Independence===
<gallery>
File:Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg|{{FIAV|111111}} {{FIAV|historical}} 1964-1996 variant of the current flag, with a darker shade of green
</gallery>

==Other flags==

===Presidential Standard===
<gallery>
File:Presidential Standard of Zambia.svg|{{FIAV|010010}} {{FIAV|normal}} Flag of the President of Zambia
</gallery>

===Air Ensigns===
{{see also|Civil air ensign}}
<gallery>
File:Zambia Air Force Ensign.svg|{{FIAV|001000}} {{FIAV|normal}} Zambia Air Force Ensign
File:Zambia Civil Air Ensign.svg|{{FIAV|100000}} {{FIAV|normal}} Zambian civil air ensign
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Coat of arms of Zambia]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{FOTW|id=zm|title=Zambia}}

{{Zambia topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zambia, Flag of}}
[[Category:1964 introductions]]
[[Category:National symbols of Zambia|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags|Zambia]]