The national flag of the Republic of Mozambique, adopted on May 1, 1983, is its official symbol, along with the coat of arms and anthem.
Description and proportions of the flag of Mozambique
The rectangular flag of Mozambique is divided into several fields. Three wide horizontal stripes of equal width from top to bottom on the flag field symbolize important things for the inhabitants of the country. Green is the plant wealth of Mozambique and its forests. The black part of the flag is a tribute to the African continent. The bright yellow bottom stripe symbolizes the country's natural resources, its minerals. The three main stripes on the Mozambique flag are separated from each other by thin white margins. The white color on the banner is an expression of the just struggle of the people of Mozambique for independence and peace.
A red isosceles triangle with a yellow star is cut from the flagpole into the flag field. On its field is an open book and a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a hoe located crosswise. These symbols emphasize the importance of education, development of production and defense of the state from external enemies. The red color of the triangular field reminds of the blood shed in the struggle against colonialism and the need to protect the country's sovereignty.
The aspect ratio of the sides of the flag of Mozambique is 2: 3.
History of the flag of Mozambique
A Portuguese colony, Mozambique became part of the Liberation Front in 1962 and used a green-black-yellow tricolor with a red triangle at the pole from 1974 to 1975.
The country then gained independence and raised a new flag that used the same colors. Seven wedges converged at the top of the shaft to form fields of yellow, black, red and green, separated by white stripes. This was followed by some more changes in state attributes, as a result of which the flag regained the horizontality of the fields.
In 1983, the modern Mozambique flag took its place on the flagpoles. In 2005, more than 100 projects of the new flag were submitted for the competition on state symbols, due to the fact that the country's parliamentary opposition is in favor of removing the image of the weapon from it.
However, the best project has not yet been implemented, since the country's public considers the machine gun on the flag of Mozambique an important part of its past and present, and therefore categorically does not agree to make any changes to the current flag of the country.
