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Landlocked Zimbabwe was
formerly known as Southern Rhodesia (named after the British colonial
promoter and businessman, Cecil Rhodes), Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
and at one time was a member of the British colonial constructed Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland (which included the modern day countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia
and Malawi).
Zimbabwe takes its name
from the ancient ruins situated in the country's south-east, called
Great Zimbabwe (houses of stone).
Zimbabwe was a colonial
territory of Britain from the late 19th century until the 18th of
April 1980, when colonial rule officially ended and independence was
declared.
On the same day independence was proclaimed, Zimbabwe
adopted its current national flag.
The new flag incorporated
the pan-African colours of red, yellow and green, which were carried
by one of the nationalist groups fighting for Zimbabwe's independence.
The pan-African colours
have been adopted by many African ex-colonies and symbolise African
independence and unity.
It is believed the colours
originated from the flag of Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in
Africa. |
