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Zimbabwean political flags

Last modified: 2006-08-12 by bruce berry
Keywords: zimbabwe | zanu | zapu | super-zapu | mdc | rf | uanc |
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Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)

image by Randy Young, 26 Jan 1999

This is the flag of the current ruling party in Zimbabwe, based on the description given to me by Bruce Berry: "The flag of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in Zimbabwe consists of a series of concentric rectangle stripes which are from the outside moving in towards the centre: green, gold, red, and black (as in the colours of the Zimbabwe flag). For example, the green stripe borders all sides of the flag, followed by a yellow stripe and so on until there is a solid black rectangle in the centre. Each stripe is of equal width (as in the Zimbabwe flag) and the flag is 1:2. The Zimbabwe flag is based directly on the colours of ZANU-PF and the symbolism of the colours is the same."
Randy Young, 21 Jan 1999

Some years ago I received from Michael Faul, membership secretary of The Flag Institute and a former citizen of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, colour drawings of the flags of four political parties of Zimbabwe used in the 1980 independence election.  There were five flags, one for ZAPU used before the election, and one for ZAPU (PF) used during the election. (ZANU and ZAPU formed a coalition called the Patriotic Front, and both parties used the PF after their names.  ZANU, the ruling party since 1980, is still known as ZANU-PF).

The flag Mr. Faul shows as being used by ZAPU-PF in the 1980 election is the same as that described and illustrated earlier, with a yellow vertical bar, and black/red/green horizontal bars, al with different coloured stars.  However, unlike the description and illustration previously provided to this list which shows a red star on the black stripe, Mr. Faul's drawing has a white star on the black stripe.  The red star would have been consistent with the older ZAPU flag described by Bruce Berry (four stripes, red/green/yellow/black, with black and yellow stars at hoist and fly of the red stripe, and red and green star at hoist and fly of black stripe, with a badge in centre showing the Great Zimbabwe ruins).

I asked Mr. Faul about this, and he affirms that the flags he saw in Zimbabwe during the 1980 election used the white star on the black bar.  He also noted that he never saw an actual flag, but representations of the flag printed on political posters and T-shirts.
Devereaux D. Cannon, 20 Mar 2001
 


Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)

[ZAPU flag] image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 14 Mar 2001

"Nations Without States" (James Minahan, 1996) states that the party flag of the former ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) is the one used as a flag by the Ndebele people of Matabeleland. At FOTW's Zimbabwean Political Flags page there is a mention of the ZAPU flag, but no description. Minahan gives it as a horizontal tricolor with a vertical stripe along the hoist. This vertical hoist stripe is yellow, with a black 5-pointed star. The three horizontal stripes are black with a red 5-pointed star; red with a green 5-pointed star; and green with a yellow 5-pointed star. In each case the star is shown as centered, and almost but not quite touching the top and bottom of the stripe (or left and right edge in the case of the vertical stripe of course). Overall the flag's ratio is shown as 2:3, and the width of the vertical stripe equals the height of one of the horizontal stripes (based only on observation of the line drawing, specifications not given).
Ned Smith, 14 Mar 2001

The flag used by the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) during the liberation struggle against the minority-regime in Rhodesia in the 1970s is not the same as that described by Ned Smith as being used by the Ndebele in Zimbabwe.  ZAPU was headed by the late Joshua Nkomo and had a guerrilla force know as the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) which operated mainly from bases in Zambia.  ZAPU, together with the Zimbabwe National People's Union (ZANU) led by Robert Mugabe and its forces known as the Zimbabwe National African Liberation Army (ZANLA) which operated mainly from Mozambique, formed a political alliance known as the Patriotic Front (PF).  At the time of the pre-independence elections in 1980, the parties spilt into their respective factions as ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU.  ZAPU was predominantly Ndebele (from the south and west of the country) and ZANU was predominantly Shona.  The Shona comprise approximately 80% of the population and hence it was not surprising that ZANU-PF won the elections.  In December 1987 a Unity Accord was signed between the two parties whereby ZAPU was incorporated into ZANU-PF and Joshua Nkomo became one of two vice-presidents of Zimbabwe.

The flag used by ZAPU during the 1970s comprised four horizontal stripes of red, green, yellow and black.  In the centre was a representation of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins in black within a circle on a white/beige background. There were also four five-pointed stars - one at each corner of the flag.  These were also in black, yellow, red and green. This flag was also used by the ZIPRA forces and was rarely seen following independence in 1980.  It was certainly not used after the Unity Accord in December 1987 when ZAPU, to all intents and purposes, ceased to exist as a separate political entity.

The flag mentioned by Ned Smith does contain some of the central elements of the former ZAPU flag.  The current situation in Zimbabwe has seen growing political opposition to the ruling ZANU-PF party but I am not aware that ZAPU, as a political party, has been revived.
Bruce Berry, 15 Mar 2001

As far I know, the new ZAPU flag adopted at end of 1979 or in 1980 was used in Matabeland in 1982-1986, when Nkomo broke with Mugabe, and liberated zones were created in two provinces of Matabeland. As party flags the upper star is reported white in Flagmaster. 1986 reconciliation took effect and ZAPU  was absorbed into ZANU-PF in 1987. During 1987-1988 Super-ZAPU operated in Matabeleland, sponsored by South Africa, which opposed Mugabe. I don't have any knowledge of its flag, but given its covert nature, it is unlikely to have had one.

Revolutionary flags:
UANC (Bishop Abel Muzorewa) two successive flags (before 1979 and after 1979)
ZANU and ZANLA (concentric rectangles, several versions reported)
ZAPU and ZIPRA, as indicated by Bruce. The stars are not clear. Flagmaster reported yellow near hoist and black in fly but I believe that is the single source for this, rest say black in hoist in yellow in fly. Mainly sources give green star near hoist and red in fly (I don't know any source that gives red star near hoist)
Patriotic Front 197?-1979 (I don't know if a single unified flag exist)
Party flags
ZANU-PF  after 1979. Unknown but perhaps same as before.
ZAPU-PF, as reported by Minahan 1979/80-1987 (white upper star according Flagmaster)
Jaume Ollé, 25 Mar 2001

Yesterday I saw a CD cover for the CD "Survival" by Bob Marley & The Wailers.  The cover contains 49 flags (which all appear to be African Nationals except for Papua/New Guinea).  Several of the flags are older versions (the CD dates from 1990), but there was one that I could not identify.  It is divided horizontally with even stripes of red-green-yellow-black.  Going clockwise in the corners from upper left are stars, yellow-black-red-green.  In the center is a white disk with black images that kind of look like a village.
Michael Smuda, 8 Aug 2001

This is the flag of ZAPU - the Zimbabwe African People's Union- during the 1970s.
Ned Smith, 9 Aug 2001

image by Marcus Schmöger, 27 Mar 2004

During some recent research into German political flags I came across an article in DKP (German Communist Party), "Unsere Zeit" of 17 Feb 1975 about a "tribunal against colonialism and apartheid" which had been held in Bonn (Germany) and where the above flag was shown. Participants of the meeting were from South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe: ANC, SWAPO, ZANU and ZAPU.
Marcus Schmöger, 27 Mar 2004
 
This flag of ZAPU (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union) is shown in The Flag Institute Bulletin (No. 005 of 01.08.1978) and in an article in the Czech Vexilologie journal (No.18 of March 1976) by Pavel Fojtik and Jaroslav Martykan on the Flags of Freedom.  It is also discussed in other vexillological bulletins such as Vexillinfo by R.Baert and Flaggenmitteilung by G.Mattern.

The flag is composed of horizontal stripes (from top to bottom) of red, green, yellow and black and stars (from a star at a staff above, clockwise) of yellow, black, green and red.  In the center on a white circle is a stylized image of  the ruins of ancient Zimbabwe in black and two black trees.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 28 Mar 2004

I know the sources quoted but I believe the central circle is yellow and not white. The order of the stars I believe is (starting from the upper hoist corner, clockwise) black, yellow, red and green.
Jaume Ollé, 29 Mar 2004 

Yes, in Vexilologie No. 18 (p.233) the central disc is described as yellow. In the Flag Institute Bulletin No. 005 (sheet 4) colour of this disk was not specified. In the German (GDR) magazine Urania I saw in 1970 it shows a white disk.

Again, in Vexilologie No. 18 (p.233) order of an arrangement of colour stars on a flag is as indicated by Jaume. But again, in The Flag Institute Bulletin No. 005 (sheet 4) and Urania, the colours are given as yellow, black, green and red.  This is probably because the flag was never officially authorised and variations occurred during manufacture.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 30 Mar 2004

Several flags have been mentioned for ZAPU. Prior to independence ZAPU used the four-stripe flag with an image of the Great Zimbabwe ruins as shown above.

A second design, with the same colours, was used later: The pattern is curiously similar to the Boer Vierkleur flags (a 2:3 horizontal tricolor with a vertical stripe near the hoist: (2+2+2):(2+7), with one star centered on each stripe.

On 14 Mar 2001, Ned Smith reported from [mnh96] «a horizontal tricolor with a vertical stripe along the hoist. This vertical hoist stripe is yellow, with a black 5-pointed star. The three horizontal stripes are black with a red 5-pointed star; red with a green 5-pointed star; and green with a yellow 5-pointed star. In each case the star is shown as centered, and almost but not quite touching the top and bottom of the stripe (or left and right edge in the case of the vertical stripe of course). Overall the flag's ratio is shown as 2:3, and the width of the vertical stripe equals the height of one of the horizontal stripes» (this comes from our page).

  image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 09 Dec 2005

On 25 Mar 2001, Jaume Ollé (also edited in our page) wrote that «Flagmaster reported yellow near hoist and black in fly but I believe that is the single
source for this» (though a week earlier, Ned had reported a different source for this design: [mnh96]) «rest say black in hoist in yellow in fly.»

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 09 Dec 2005

On 25 Mar 2001, Jaume Ollé wrote «Mainly sources give green star near hoist and red in fly (I don't know any source that gives red star near hoist)».
Now I'm fully confused: Is this a third design, or just star colour specs for the previously described ones? Which star goes on which stripe in which
source?
António MARTINS-Tuválkin, 09 Dec 2005


Super-ZAPU

In 1982 Nkomo and Mugabe quarreled. Nkomo is a member of the  Ndebele tribe while Mugabe is a Shona.  The Ndebele revolted in Matabeleland in support of Nkomo and some liberated zones were created in two provinces. It seems that the ZAPU flag was used. In 1986 Nkomo and Mugabe re-established ties and the Unity Accord was signed between ZAPU and ZANU.  During 1987 and 1988 a group called Super-ZAPU operated in Matabeleland  (base of the Ndebele tribe) with assistance from South Africa against the Zimbabwe government.  
Jaume Ollé, 12 Dec 1998

Yes, it is true that there was a movement called "Super-ZAPU", which was supported by the apartheid regime  in South Africa against the Mugabe government in Zimbabwe in the 1980s. This support would have been along the same lines as the support given to Renamo in Mozambique against Frelimo and was part of the "destabilisation" efforts of the former South African government in southern Africa. I am not aware of any flag used by Super-ZAPU. Unlike Renamo, the movement did not survive for long and the "Unity Accord" between ZAPU and ZANU saw Nkomo and Mugabe patch up their differences and the two political parties merged and Nkomo became Vice President of Zimbabwe. Numerically the Ndebele only account for 20% of the population of Zimbabwe, so they are unlikely to be more than a minority political force
Bruce Berry, 14 Dec 1998
 


Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)

[Movement for Democratic Change] image by Zach Harden, 17 Mar 2002

The Movement for Democratic Change, or the MDC, is the official opposition which contested the recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Zimbabwe. Even though they lost, their flag has been seen across the country.
The flag is in a 1:2 ratio, the same as the national flag of Zimbabwe.
The colour of red, black, green and yellow are present because those colors not only derive from the national flag, but are the traditional colours of the Africa.  The open hand on the flag is the election symbol of the MDC and it represents transparency.  It is holding nothing, hiding nothing, showing commitment to change in Zimbabwe. The flag was shown in a Yahoo News Photo covering the elections.
Zach Harden, 17 Mar 2002

[MDC logo] image sent by Zach Harden, 17 Mar 2002

The open hand, the election symbol of the Movement for Democratic Change, was chosen as it represents transparency : We  have nothing to hide, we carry no weapons and we promote the ideals of a peaceful democracy. In addition it illustrates that each one of us has the power to change the current political status quo in Zimbabwe. We have that power in our hand and we can exercise it when we vote in this year's elections.
Our Slogan: In Shona - "Chinja Maitiro, Maitiro Chinja". In Ndebele - "Guqula Izenzo, Izenzo Guqula".
The closest English translation is; "Now is the time, fight for change, support the Movement"
Info from the MDC website.
Zach Harden, 17 Mar 2002
 


Mthwakazi

  image sent by Chrystian Kretowicz, 15 Nov 2005

Originally reported on our sister mailing list, Russovex - by the member from Latvia, the website at: http://www.mthwakazionline.org/Editors.html
shows the statement by the movement for the creation of the break-away state containing Matabeleland and Midlands parts of Zimbabwe for the Ndebele
people called the United Mthwakazi Republic.

This page shows the purported emblem and flag of the movement, while the flag and detailed description of the symbols and colours is displayed at:
http://mthwakazionline.org/Flag.html as shown above.

The flag of Mthwakazi contains a very unusual colour - gray.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 15 Nov 2005

from http://www.mthwakazionline.org/index.html

Mr. Ilmârs Bite from Latvia posted on Russovex mailing list yet another flag of the Mthwakazi Republic (Matabeleland). The flag can be seen at:
http://www.mthwakazionline.org/index.html.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 22 Dec 2005


Rhodesian Front (RF)

image by Martin Grieve, 31 May 2005

The Special Edition Newsletter published by the Société Française de Vexillologie to commemorate its 20th anniversary illustrates the flag used by the Rhodesian Front. The flag is divided horizontally purple over white, with the party's "RF" logo in white on the upper purple stripe. The symbolism of the colours is unknown.

The Rhodesian Front was founded in 1962 and was the governing party in what was then Rhodesia between 1964 and May 1979. Under the leadership of Ian Smith, who became Prime Minister of Rhodesia on 14 April 1964, Rhodesia declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain on 11 November 1965. This was later declared illegal by the United Nations which imposed mandatory economic sanctions on the country. The Rhodesian Front advocated that the government of the country should remain in "responsible hands" and was opposed to communism and the compulsory integration of Africans and Europeans in Rhodesia. The party won all 50 "European" seats in the Rhodesian parliament in 1970. Following the "Internal Settlement" between the Rhodesian Government and internally based African nationalist leaders on 03 March 1978, universal adult suffrage elections were held at the beginning of 1979 which led to a victory by the United African National Council (UANC) led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa. Bishop Muzorewa became Prime Minister of a Government of National Unity, including the Rhodesian Front, when the country became Zimbabwe Rhodesia on 01 June 1979. It was this Government of National Unity which entered into negotiations with the externally based African nationalist leaders of the Patriotic Front, led by Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, at Lancaster House in London at the end of 1979 and which finally arrived at an agreement which led to the return to legality of the government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. The country returned to a brief period of direct British rule following the arrival of Governor Lord Christopher Soames on 12 December 1979 whose task was to monitor the ceasefire, supervise elections and transfer power to a new government in terms of the Lancaster House Agreement.

In terms of the Lancaster House Agreement, there were 20 seats in the Zimbabwean parliament specifically reserved for "Europeans". These were held by the Rhodesian Front, which changed its name to the Republican Front following the independence of Zimbabwe in April 1980 and later to the Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe (CAZ). Ian Smith remained leader of the party until 1987. The reservation of "white" seats in the Zimbabwean parliament ended in 1990 and the CAZ has since faded from the political landscape in Zimbabwe.
Bruce Berry,
31 May 2005


United African National Council (UANC)

 image by Martin Grieve, 27 May 2005

The United African National Council (UANC) was led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa and was the ruling party in the short-lived Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979. Following the banning of most African-based political parties in Rhodesia in the early 1960s, many African political leaders were jailed or left the country. Muzorewa initially led resistance to the Rhodesian Front regime in his pastoral capacity and formed the UANC to represent African political opinion in opposing the constitutional proposals negotiated by Ian Smith (for the Rhodesian Government) and Sir Alec Douglas Hume (for the British Government) in 1971. As an internally based African leader, Bishop Muzorewa led the UANC into the "Internal Settlement" with the Rhodesian Government on 03 March 1978 and formed a transitional government with the Rhodesian Front and other political parties, winning the first universal adult suffrage elections held in the country in April 1979 with 67% of the vote. A Government of National Unity was formed under the UANC when the country became Zimbabwe Rhodesia on 01 June 1979. It was this Government of National Unity which entered into negotiations with the externally based African nationalist leaders of the Patriotic Front, led by Robert Mugabe and
Joshua Nkomo, at Lancaster House in London at the end of 1979 and which finally arrived at an agreement which led to the return to legality of the government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The country returned to a brief period of direct British rule following the arrival of Governor Christopher Soames on 12 December 1979 whose task was to monitor the ceasefire, supervise new elections and transfer power to a new government in terms of the Lancaster House Agreement. This was achieved when Zimbabwe attained independence on 18 April 1980.

In the February 1980 elections the UANC won three seats in the first Zimbabwean parliament and remains a small political party with Muzorewa having left politics in 1986.

image by Martin Grieve, 27 May 2005

The flag used by the UANC comprised a red field. In the canton are three horizontal stripes of black, yellow and green, the colours of the South African African National Congress (ANC) - although sometimes not in the same order. A number of variants were seen during the election campaigns in 1979 and 1980, one of which was unveiled in the town of Gatooma and photographed by the Pretoria News (28 January 1978). This flag had a red background with black, green and yellow horizontal stripes in the centre and the letters UANC in black in each corner. According to UANC Publicity Secretary at the time, David Mukome, the colours stood for the following: "The black is for the majority of the people in this country. Green is for agriculture which is the main occupation of our people. Yellow is for the minerals in general which are a major source of our foreign currency" while the red background is for the "blood that has been shed". These colours were also used in the national flag of Zimbabwe Rhodesia with similar symbolism.

image by Martin Grieve, 27 May 2005

Flagmaster No. 115 (2005) shows a UANC flag and gives the order of the colours in the canton as being black, yellow and green. Michael Faul, the author of the article, has since informed me that he has a hand-held flag given to UANC supporters in 1979 on which he based his description. It appears that the order of the horizontal stripes (particularly the yellow and green stripes) may have differed thus leading to a number of variants of the UANC flag.
Bruce Berry, 27 May 2005


A political UFE

[ufe] image sent by Albert S Kirsch, 17 Jan 2002

This is a photo from The Economist, (12 Jan 2002, page 15) showing demonstrators in the latest election campaign in Zimbabwe. Can anyone identify what flag is being flown (and echoed on one man's shirt)?
Albert S Kirsch, 17 Jan 2002