Flag of Botswana
Use | National flag |
---|---|
Proportion | 2:3 |
Adopted | 30 September 1966 |
Design | A light blue field cut horizontally in the centre by a black stripe with a thin white frame. |
Presidential Standard of Botswana | |
Proportion | 2:3 |
Design | A light blue field charged with a black-rimmed white circle containing the coat of arms of Botswana in the centre. |
The national flag of Botswana (Setswana: folaga ya Botswana) consists of a sky blue field cut horizontally in the centre by a black stripe with a thin white frame. Adopted in 1966 to replace the Union Jack, it has been the flag of the Republic of Botswana since the country gained independence that year.[1] It is one of the few African flags that utilises neither the colours of the Pan-Africanist movement nor the colours of the country's leading political party.[2]
History
In 1885, Bechuanaland became a
Before it gained independence, Botswana did not have its own
Design
The colours of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings.[1] The light blue represents water—specifically, in its form of rain,[8] as it is a precious resource in Botswana, which relies on agriculture[9] and suffers from frequent droughts[2] due to the dry and arid climate of the Kalahari Desert.[4][9] The blue also alludes to the motto featured on the coat of arms of Botswana—Pula, which means "Let there be rain" in Setswana[9]—as well as life, which is sustained by water.[2]
The black band with the white frame has two meanings. Firstly, they symbolise the harmony and cooperation between the people of different races who live in Botswana, as well as the racial diversity of the country.[4][10] Furthermore, they represent the stripes of the zebra, the national animal of Botswana.[9][10]
Construction Sheet
Gallery
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The Union Jack was used until the Independence of Botswana
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Flag of the Botswana Defence Force
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Ensign of the Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
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Roundel of the Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
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Fin Flash of Botswana
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Flag of Gaborone
Colours
Blue | White | Black | |
---|---|---|---|
RGB | 109/169/210 | 255/255/255 | 0/0/0 |
Hexadecimal | #6DA9D2 | #FFFFFF | #000000 |
References
- ^ a b "The meaning behind the Botswana flag – YourBotswana". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- ^ ISBN 9781405338615. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c "History of Botswana". Lonely Planet. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Whitney. "Botswana, flag of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 5, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ Molosi, Donald. "9-1-4-1-9: Decoding the Botswana Flag - The Patriot on Sunday". www.thepatriot.co.bw. Archived from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- ^ Paine, David J. (September 29, 1966). "New nation raises flag". The Leader-Post. Regina. Associated Press. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ Molosi, Donald. "9-1-4-1-9: Decoding the Botswana Flag - The Patriot on Sunday". www.thepatriot.co.bw. Archived from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- ^ "Botswana". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 9780007165261. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 9781575059532. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
flag of botswana.