Flag of Mozambique
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hoist-side bearing the yellow five-pointed star that bears a Kalashnikov rifle with the bayonet attached to the barrel crossed by a farming mattock superimposed on an open book. |
The flag of Mozambique is the national flag of the
History
The flag is based on the flag of the
On independence the colours were rearranged to form the national flag, in diagonals emanating from the upper hoist. Over this was a white
2005 new flag proposal
In 2005, a competition was held to design a new flag for Mozambique. This came in the context of a drive to create a new crest and anthem for the country. RENAMO, Mozambique's parliamentary opposition, specifically wanted to see two symbols removed from the flag: the star, which they saw as representative of the country's communist past; and the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which they argued is incompatible with a country trying to be peaceful after the Mozambican Civil War.[1] FRELIMO, the ruling party, argued that the star's resemblance to the communist symbol was coincidental, and that the rifle represented the nation's struggle for independence.[1][2]
169 entries were received[1] and a winning flag was selected, but was rejected by the FRELIMO-led parliament in December 2005. All 169 proposed flags were turned down, including the current flag without the rifle.[3]
Gallery
Presidential standards
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Presidential Standard of the People's Republic of Mozambique from 1975 to 1982.
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Presidential Standard of the Republic of Mozambique since 1990.
Historical flags
Regional flags
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Flag of Maputo.
References
- ^ a b c "Symbols Are Important. So What Does a Gun Symbolize?". New York Times. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Are you passionate about your flag?". BBC News. December 23, 2005.
- ^ "Mozambique: Parliament Keeps Gun In National Flag". New York Times. 2005-12-20. Retrieved 2007-11-14.