Flag of Mozambique

Last updated
Republic of Mozambique
Flag of Mozambique.svg
Use National flag and ensign FIAV 111111.svg FIAV normal.svg IFIS Mirror.svg IFIS Vertical inapplicable.svg
Proportion2:3
Adopted1 May 1983;41 years ago (1983-05-01)
DesignA horizontal tricolour of green, black, and gold with white fimbriations and a red isosceles triangle at the hoist. The triangle is charged with a five-pointed gold star which has above it an AK-47 crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book.
Designed by FRELIMO

The national flag of Mozambique is a horizontal tricolour of green, black, and gold with white fimbriations and a red isosceles triangle at the hoist. The triangle is charged with a five-pointed gold star in its center, above which there is a bayonet-equipped AK-47 crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book. The current design, adopted on 1 May 1983, is a modified version of the first flag of FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front), which has governed the country since its independence from Portugal on 25 June 1975. Since the democratisation of Mozambique in 1990, there have been calls to change the flag, particularly to remove the AK-47.

Contents

Design

The design of the flag is described in Title XVI, Article 297 of the Constitution of Mozambique, 2004 (2007 revision):

"From top to bottom, there shall be green, black, and gold horizontal stripes, separated by strips of white. On the left side, there shall be a red triangle, in the center of which there shall be a star. Above this there shall be a crossed hoe and gun, superimposed on a book." [1]

Colours

The flag's colours are constitutionally defined, but their specific shades are not. [1] The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games used the following Pantone colour codes in 2012: green, PMS 355; yellow, PMS 109; red, PMS 185; and PMS Black. [2]

Symbolism

The Mozambican constitution explains the significance of the flag's colours and symbols. Red represents anti-colonial resistance and the defence of national sovereignty; green and gold represent the riches of the country's soil; black represents the African continent, and white represents peace and the justness of the Mozambican people's struggle. The star represents the international solidarity of the Mozambican people, while the book, hoe, and gun symbolise education, production, and defence, respectively. [1] While the constitution does not identify the specific gun used in the design, it is generally understood to be an AK-47 with a bayonet attached. [3] [4] [5] The flag of Mozambique is one of two national flags that feature a firearm, the other being the flag of Guatemala. [6] It is the only national flag that features a modern firearm. [7]

The US Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook gives a slightly different explanation of the flag's symbolism. It states that yellow represents Mozambique's minerals, the star represents Marxism and internationalism, the gun represents vigilance in addition to defence, the hoe represents agriculture, and the open book stresses the importance of education. [6]

Historical flags

During the Portuguese colonial period, Mozambique flew the Portuguese flag. [8] The Mozambican War of Independence between Portugal and FRELIMO ended in September 1974 with the signing of the Lusaka Accord and the formation of a transitional government. [9] During Mozambique's transition to independence, the flag of Portugal flew alongside the then flag of FRELIMO, which was similar to the country's current flag but without any charges on the triangle. [10] [11] American vexillologist Whitney Smith suggests that the design may have been inspired by the flag of Tanganyika, where FRELIMO had been operating in exile. [10]

The People's Republic of Mozambique proclaimed its independence on 25 June 1975, and a new national flag was hoisted in place of the Portuguese and FRELIMO flags. [10] [12] The new flag's design was defined in Title IV, Article 68 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Mozambique. The flag consisted of four diagonal stripes emanating from the upper hoist, separated by white fimbriations. The stripes were, from top to bottom, green, red, black, and yellow. Near the upper hoist was a white cogwheel, charged with a red star and an AK-47 crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book. [13] The colours and symbols of the People's Republic flag retained by the current flag share the same meaning. The cogwheel represented the working class and industrial production, while the red star represented internationalism. [13] The flag was changed in April 1983 to an alteration of the FRELIMO flag; the previous flag's charge was placed on top of a large yellow star inside the red triangle. The cogwheel was removed shortly thereafter on 1 May 1983, leading to the flag's present design. [11]

Proposals to change the flag

The flag of Mozambique flying at the Dia de Portugal Festival in San Jose, California Dia de Portugal Festival in San Jose (June 11, 2022) - 83.jpg
The flag of Mozambique flying at the Dia de Portugal Festival in San Jose, California

The drafting of a new Mozambican constitution in 1990 started discussions on changing the country's national symbols, including the national flag. [14] Critics argued that, because the national flag resembled the flag of FRELIMO, it was antithetical to calls for national unity. [15] Jorge Rebelo, a member of FRELIMO's political bureau, acknowledged the debates surrounding the flag but stated that it would remain unchanged. [14] Since then, the primary criticism has been directed at the inclusion of the AK-47 on the flag, which some Mozambicans view as an allusion to violence. [15]

In 2005, the Mozambican government held a competition to design a new national flag and emblem. RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistance), Mozambique's main opposition party, called for the removal of the AK-47 and star from the flag. [16] José Gabriel Manteigas, a RENAMO member of parliament, gave the following critique:

"As a peaceful country, you can't have a flag with a gun on it. For children growing up now in peace, they see a flag with a gun on it, and it doesn't make sense. As for the star, anyone who has seen the Soviet flag knows that a star is the mark of communism. It is true that the Mozambique flag's yellow star seems borrowed from an earlier Frelimo flag with a crossed hammer and hoe under a yellow star, a blood relative of the old Soviet hammer and sickle." [16]

Then Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano responded by saying that, if Mozambique's lone star symbolised communism, then "the Stars and Stripes would place the United States among the world's most leftist nations." [16] A total of 169 entries were received and reviewed by a panel of five judges. [16] The proposals were ultimately rejected by the Assembly of the Republic, which voted 155 to 79 against changing the flag. All the votes against were from FRELIMO, and all the votes for were from RENAMO. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mozambique</span> Country in Southeastern Africa

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Africa to the southwest. The sovereign state is separated from the Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel to the east. The capital and largest city is Maputo.

Mozambique was a Portuguese colony, overseas province and later a member state of Portugal. It gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Mozambique</span>

Politics in Mozambique takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mozambique is head of state and head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of the Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samora Machel</span> Former president of Mozambique (1933–1986)

Samora Moisés Machel was a Mozambican politician and revolutionary. A socialist in the tradition of Marxism–Leninism, he served as the first President of Mozambique from the country's independence in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FRELIMO</span> Ruling party of Mozambique since 1977

FRELIMO is a democratic socialist political party in Mozambique. It has governed the country since its independence from Portugal in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of East Timor</span> National flag

The national flag of East Timor is one of the official symbols of East Timor. It consists of a red field with the black isosceles triangle based on the hoist-side bearing a white five-pointed star in the center superimposed on the larger yellow triangle, also based on the hoist-side, that extends to the center of the flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe</span> National flag

The national flag of São Tomé and Príncipe is a horizontal triband of green, yellow, and green, with a red isosceles triangle at the hoist and two five-pointed black stars on the yellow band. The flag's aspect ratio is 1:2 and the ratio of the bands are 2:3:2. The flag was adopted upon São Tomé and Príncipe's independence from Portugal on 12 July 1975. The design is based on, and nearly identical to, the first flag of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP), which led the country to its independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RENAMO</span> Mozambican political party

RENAMO is a Mozambican political party and militant group. The party was founded with the active sponsorship of the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) in May 1977 from anti-communist dissidents opposed to Mozambique's ruling FRELIMO party. RENAMO was initially led by André Matsangaissa, a former senior official in FRELIMO's armed wing, and was composed of several anti-communist dissident groups which appeared immediately prior to, and shortly following, Mozambican independence. Matsangaissa, who died in 1979, was succeeded by Afonso Dhlakama, who led the organization until he died in 2018. He was succeeded by Ossufo Momade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Operation in Mozambique</span>

The United Nations Operations in Mozambique was a UN peace mission to Mozambique established in December 1992 under Security Council Resolution 797 with the assignment to monitor the implementation of the Rome General Peace Accords agreed upon by the Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano of FRELIMO, the Front for Liberation of Mozambique, and Afonso Dhlakama of RENAMO, the Mozambican National Resistance. The operation was one of the most significant and extensive UN operations and it sought to demobilize and disarm troops, provide humanitarian aid, and oversee the elections. The operation ended in December 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Mozambique</span>

Mozambique elects representatives at several levels:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afonso Dhlakama</span> Mozambican politician (1953–2018)

Afonso Marceta Macacho Dhlakama was a Mozambican politician and the leader of RENAMO, an anti-communist guerrilla movement that fought the FRELIMO government in the Mozambican Civil War before signing a peace agreement and becoming an opposition political party in the early 1990s. Dhlakama was born in Mangunde, Sofala Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mozambican Civil War</span> 1977–1992 civil war in Mozambique

The Mozambican Civil War was a civil war fought in Mozambique from 1977 to 1992. Like many regional African conflicts during the late twentieth century, the impetus for the Mozambican Civil War included local dynamics exacerbated greatly by the polarizing effects of Cold War politics. The war was fought between Mozambique's ruling Marxist Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), the anti-communist insurgent forces of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), and a number of smaller factions such as the PRM, UNAMO, COREMO, UNIPOMO, and FUMO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emblem of Mozambique</span> National symbol of the Southeast African country

The national emblem of Mozambique was adopted in 1990 in the Constitution of Mozambique Article 194. The Article clearly states the design and meaning of the device. It shows a gearwheel bordered by corn stalks and sugarcane. In the middle, there is a red sun over a map of Mozambique in green, and blue waves, an AK-47 crossed with a hoe, and a book. The wreath is tied to a ribbon bearing the name of the country. The emblem is rendered in a socialist heraldry style similar to those used by the republics of the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mozambican War of Independence</span> 1964–1974 armed conflict in Southeastern Africa

The Mozambican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and Portugal. The war officially started on 25 September 1964, and ended with a ceasefire on 8 September 1974, resulting in a negotiated independence in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcelino dos Santos</span> Mozambican poet, revolutionary, and politician (1929–2020)

Marcelino dos Santos was a Mozambican poet, revolutionary, and politician. As a young man he travelled to Portugal, and France for an education. He was a founding member of the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique, in 1962, and served as the party's deputy president from 1969 to 1977. He was Minister of Economic Development in the late 1970s, Frelimo Political Bureau member in charge of the economy in the early 1980s, Chairman of the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, from 1987 to 1994, and, as of 1999, remained a member of the Frelimo Central Committee. He represented the left wing of the party, remaining an avowed Marxist-Leninist, despite the party's embrace of capitalism in recent decades, an embrace which dos Santos declared was temporary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Republic of Mozambique</span> 1975–1990 country in southeast Africa

The People's Republic of Mozambique was a socialist state that existed in present-day Mozambique from 1975 to 1990. It was established when the country gained independence from Portugal in June 1975 and the Mozambican Liberation Front ("FRELIMO") established a one-party socialist state led by Samora Machel. The state enjoyed close political and military ties with the Soviet Union, which was one of the first nations to provide diplomatic recognition and financial support to the fledgling FRELIMO government. For the duration of its history, the People's Republic of Mozambique remained heavily dependent on Soviet aid, both in financial terms as well as with regards to food security, fuel, and other vital economic necessities. From 1977 to 1992, the country was devastated by a deadly civil war which pitted the armed forces against the anti-communist Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) insurgency, backed by neighbouring Rhodesia and South Africa.

The present honours and decorations were passed by the Mozambican Assembly of the Republic in March 2011. It consists of two honorary titles, five Orders and some medals. The awards are managed by the National Commission on Honours and Decorations. The President of Mozambique will present the awards after recommendation by the Assembly, the provincial and central governments, the armed forces and the educational establishment.

Gilles Cistac was a French-Mozambican lawyer specialised in constitutional law. He was shot and killed and political motives were suspected. The RENAMO party organised protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivone Soares</span>

Ivone Soares is a Mozambican politician. She is the deputy leader of Mozambican National Resistance and leads its parliamentary party in the Assembly of the Republic. Soares is also a member of the Pan-African Parliament where she is vice-president of youth. She was the target of an attempted assassination in September 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Mozambique</span>

The concept of human rights in Mozambique is an ongoing issue for the African country, officially named the Republic of Mozambique. For more than four centuries, Mozambique was ruled by the Portuguese. Following Mozambique’s independence from Portugal came 17 years of civil war, between RENAMO and FRELIMO, until 1992, when peace was finally reached. Armando Guebuza was then elected president in 2004 and re-elected in 2009, despite criticisms that he lacked honesty, transparency, and impartiality. This sparked a series of human rights incidents including unlawful killing, arbitrary arrests, inhumane prison conditions, and unfair trials. There were also many issues regarding freedom in relation to speech and media, internet freedom, freedom of peaceful assembly, and discrimination and abuse of women, children and people with disabilities. Many of these issues are ongoing and have become current human rights violation is for Mozambique.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique 2007, p. 97, Title XVI, Article 297.
  2. LOCOG 2012, p. 74.
  3. Encyclopædia Britannica 2024: "The symbolic value of the AK-47 to such movements is demonstrated by its presence on the coats of arms of numerous countries as well as on the flag of Mozambique."
  4. Chivers 2011 , p.  15: "An AK-47 with bayonet attached appears on the flag of Mozambique ..."
  5. Wheeler 1990 , p. 161: "Samora Machel, who declared the country's name as the People's Republic of Mozambique and placed a depiction of a Soviet AK47 Kalashnikov on the national flag."
  6. 1 2 Central Intelligence Agency 2024.
  7. Marshall 2017 , p.  73: "The single most interesting thing about it is the AK-47 assault rifle with a fixed bayonet on its left-hand side. This is the only national flag in the world with a modern weapon symbolised on it."
  8. Mohr 1975.
  9. Munslow 1988, p. 25.
  10. 1 2 3 Smith 2001.
  11. 1 2 Flag Research Center 1983, p. 242.
  12. Zeman 2024, p. 248.
  13. 1 2 Constitution of the People's Republic of Mozambique 1975, Title IV, Article 68.
  14. 1 2 Seleti 1997, p. 57.
  15. 1 2 Marshall 2017, p. 73.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Wines 2005.
  17. Reuters 2005.

Sources

Books

  • Chivers, C. J. (6 September 2011). The Gun. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-0-7432-7173-8.
  • Flags and Anthems Manual: London 2012 (PDF). London, United Kingdom: London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  • Marshall, Tim (4 July 2017). A Flag Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of National Symbols. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-1-5011-6835-2.
  • The Flag Bulletin. Vol. 22. Flag Research Center. 1983.
  • Wheeler, Jack (1990). "Mozambique". In Radu, Michael (ed.). The New Insurgencies: Anti-Communist Guerrillas in the Third World (1st ed.). Transaction Publishers. ISBN   978-1-4128-3800-9.

Journal articles

News articles

Government publications

Websites