Flag of Namibia
The first flags of Namibia came from the early 20th century. Already the Germans planned its own flag for their colony. Thereafter, British and South African flags were used. The homelands in South West Africa had their own flags. The national flag of Namibia was officially adopted with the attainment of independence on 21 March 1990. There are also various other national, political and regional flags.
- 2.1 Rehoboth Basters
- 2.2 Caprivi Strip
- 3.1 parties
- 4.1 South Africa
- 4.2 Homelands
National flags
National flag
A Committee elected in 1990 from 835 designs, the national flag of Namibia, which she introduced on February 2, 1990. The colors red, blue and green were taken from the banner of SWAPO. Red, White and Blue came from the flag of the Democratic Alliance gym.
Construction
The appearance of the national flag has been set in the Constitution of Namibia in Annex 6.
The national flag of Namibia to the aspect ratio of 2:3 (h: b), divided by three ascending diagonal stripes in blue, white and green. The diameter of the white band is one-third of the flag width and is covered by a red stripe with a width of one quarter of the flag width. At the top, the flagpole facing corner there is a golden sun with twelve straight rays, the diameter of this is one-third of the flag height. The center is located one-fifth of the flag length away from the mast and is located equidistant from the top and the white tape is removed. The beams have a length of two -fifths of the solar radius, and are separated by a blue ring of the solar disk, which is a tenth of the solar radius wide.
Meanings
Although the colors were officially assigned no specific meanings, a representative of the committee declared it as follows:
- Red represents Namibia's most important resource, the people. It refers to their heroism and the common will to achieve a future with equal opportunities for all.
- White stands for the peaceful coexistence and unity.
- Green represents vegetation and fertility.
- Blue represents the sky and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the precious water reserves and the rain.
- The golden yellow sun represents life and vitality, energy and heat. Here are the 12 rays of the sun as a symbol of the various ethnic groups.
Presidential flag
In the design of the standard of the President they took the South African counterpart as a model, which was used until 1994. The floor area is divided horizontally, top blue, green below. It is, on the whole width, a golden triangle with the tip to the flight portion. In the triangle rests the coat of arms of Namibia. The flag is used only in the home country. Abroad, the President leads the national flag.
Police flag
Similar to the national flag was the flag of the Namibian Police by the end of October 2009. Here the green surface was replaced by a more blue area and the usual sun by the police star. The new police flag was introduced on 1 November 2009. This is due to the integration of the national flag clarify the attachment to the land.
2:3 Flag of the Namibian police since November 1, 2009
Military flag
The flag of the Namibian Defence Force ( Namibian armed forces) shows the arms of the NDF on a white triangle, which is flanked by a red and light blue triangle in the opposite direction.
Regional flags
Rehoboth Basters
The Rehoboth Basters are descendants of Boers from South Africa and women of the Nama. In 1868 they founded the city Rehoboth in Namibia today. In 1872 they adopted their own, square flag, whose colors black, white and red already pointed to the German influence in the region. The Basters were also one of the first tribes that signed a protection treaty with the German Reich. As a semi-autonomous political unit Basterland they used their flag to the independence of Namibia. In a rectangular version, it is still used today by the Baster, they also blow on Parliament Building of Rehoboth.
? today's form
Caprivi Strip
On 7 October 2002 the people of the Itengese declared their home region as the Free State of Caprivi Strip independence of Namibia. However, this was not recognized by the central government. The exile government of the Caprivi African National Union ( CANU ) adopted a flag based on the flag of the former homelands. Three horizontal stripes in blue, white and green, complemented by two narrow red stripes at the interfaces. Then two black elephants. Here the elephants symbolize national unity and cohesion of the Itengese. The colors come from their history and also the nature of the country. Blue stands for fate, loyalty and humility, as well for the sky, rivers and lakes. White represents enlightenment and virtue, as well as unity and peace. Green symbolizes the Caprivi Strip, agriculture and natural resources. The narrow red stripes stand for the fight for freedom.
Political flags
Parties
The flag of SWAPO, the largest party in Namibia since 1971 in use. Your colors should come from the tradition of the Ovambo, the largest ethnic group of the country. A similar flag, but was supplemented by two gold stripes, leads SWANU. Unlike the Democrats Congress ( Congress of Democrats ): their flag shows a gold star with a white border, a narrow white cross on a blue background.
SWANU
Congress Democrats
Monitor Aksiegroep
Rally for Democracy and Progress
National Democratic Party
United Democratic Party - Caprivi Freedom
Historical flags
South West Africa
Like the other German colonies used German South-West Africa, only the flags of the German Empire. 1914 there was a proposal for its own flag of the colony of German South West Africa, but this was never put into practice. In the course of World War I, South African troops occupied South West Africa; German forces surrendered on July 9, 1915. General Louis Botha continued after the conquest of Windhoek, the Red Ensign South Africa, which had a wide use in the population of South Africa, although it was actually the merchant flag and country officially the Union Jack was used. 1928 South Africa received a new flag, which has now been used in its mandate area South West Africa.
3:5? 7 flag proposal - German South West Africa in 1914
1:2? Red Ensign South Africa, in South West Africa 1915-1928
1:2? Union Jack, official flag of South Africa to 1928
2:3? Flag of South Africa, in South West Africa 1928-1990
Homelands
According to South African model ( Bantustans ) were also established in the then South West Africa from 1968 Homelands. While they were in 1980 reintegrated into South Africa, as an administrative unit they disappeared with independence in 1990, with them their flags.
First, the Ovamboland in 1973 received its own flag. Blue symbolizes the sky, white for peace and green agriculture. The seven tribes of the Ovambo were symbolized by the green lines.
1979, a flag was presented for the Damaraland, but not officially adopted, there was political resistance. Nevertheless, the flag was used as a unifying symbol. The white and brown flag shows a boundary post with eight points, which are intended to represent the eight tribes of the country.
In 1973 received the Kavangoland its flag. The green flag was supplemented with three narrow horizontal stripes in orange, white and blue. The green symbolized the landscape, the water-rich conditions for Namibian country. Orange, white and blue were taken from the flag of South Africa.
First eastern Caprivi used a horizontal blue-white- blue striped flag with two black buckets in the center. However, this was very similar to the flag of the South African Homelands Gazankulu, so in 1977 a new flag was introduced. She showed four horizontal stripes in black, white, green and blue and black two elephants facing each other. The two elephants represented the two main tribes of the country, the Mafwe and Basubia. Black and White symbolized the population, agriculture green and blue surrounding waters.
? Damaraland
2:3? Kavangoland
? Namaland
? Eastern Caprivi, to 1977
2:3? eastern Caprivi
? Ovamboland