By Tatenda Gapa

WHEN the Pioneer column arrived in September 1890, Lieutenant Edward Tyndale-Biscoe hoisted the Union Jack on the kopje overlooking Fort Salisbury (now Harare), it was a sign of occupation, the land was now ‘theirs’.
The Union Jack hung as evidence that the stolen land now belonged to the British and rival powers would now identify Zimbabwe as British territory.
In the same way the Zimbabwean Bird etched in soapstone and housed at the Great Zimbabwe along with other artefacts were symbols and national emblems that represented the people and the Rhodesians knew the importance of these relics and seized them.
Zimbabwe’s national symbols were embezzled from the country some 100 years ago during the period of European colonisation of Africa as a way to deprive the people of their identity because the birds were a sign of the royal presence of the Munhumutapa.
The bird was also incorporated on the Zimbabwean flag, showing it is an important part of our history, the history of Zimbabwe.
The flag is not just merely for display, every element on the flag has a meaning.
It is important to know what the colours of your flag represent in order to understand where you are coming from so as to be able to appreciate your past and be able to shape your destiny from an informed point of view.
Flags represent a country or nation and are symbolic of the nation’s identity.
For some people, a flag stirs up a sense of pride as they think of what they or others before them went through and those that died during the making of their country.
The Zimbabwe flag tells its own story with the various colours and symbols that make up the flag.
Prince Charles flew in person from England to collect the Union Jack when the Zimbabwean flag was hoisted, showing that the flag and its symbolical meanings are not trivial matters.
The national flag of Zimbabwe consists of seven even horizontal stripes of green, yellow, red and black with a white triangle containing a red five point star with the Zimbabwean Bird.
The present design was adopted on April 18 1980, when Zimbabwe attained independence.
The Green Stripe on the Zimbabwean national flag represents the country’s vegetation and land resources.
It is a constant reminder of the importance of the land that is now indigenously owned thanks to the liberation struggle and the Land Reform Programme.
Vast lands are now under the control of Zimbabweans who were once confined to barren land in reserves.
The Yellow Stripe represents the country’s mineral wealth which include gold, diamonds, nickel, chrome, asbestos, silver only to mention a few.
Zimbabwe’s rich mineral base is one of the major reasons why Ian Smith and his regime declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) and it is also the reason why Zimbabwe was granted independence only after going through an immense struggle which saw the loss of lives of many.
The Red Stripe is a symbol or reminder of the blood that was shed during the First and Second Chimurenga, the blood of the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who sacrificed their lives for the future of the country.
The Black Stripe in the middle section of the flag represents the black majority.
Black people had very little representation and they hardly had rights during the colonial era.
The black stripe is a constant reminder of how black people have risen and taken their rightful place as they were once treated as third-class citizens in their own country.
The white triangle stands for peace, tranquillity and freedom that Zimbabweans enjoy today.
The bird is the national emblem of Zimbabwe which also features on the coat of arms and the currency.
The image was derived from carved soapstone birds found at the Great Zimbabwe monument in the late 19th century and these birds a sentimental value to the people of Zimbabwe as they are an important part of their history.
The red star which is located behind the Zimbabwe Bird represents the nation’s aspirations, internationalism, a bright future for the country which can only be understood when one knows the efforts that were made during the liberation struggle and the suffering that the people of this country had to go through.
Thus saluting the flag is a common occurrence in many countries and it should not be taken lightly in Zimbabwe.
There are certain guidelines for the use, display and disposal of the national flag of Zimbabwe.
The flag should never be allowed to come into contact with the ground.
Should the flag reach a stage where it is no longer deemed worthy of the public eye, such as when it is torn and tattered, it should be “destroyed in a dignified way” with “all due care and respect.”
On August 7 1980, the late President of Mozambique, Samora Machel once made a prominent speech involving the national flag of Zimbabwe, in which he said while holding the flag, “This flag covers everyone.
“There are no blacks in Zimbabwe, there are no whites, there are no mulattos and Indians, today there are just Zimbabweans.”
Therefore let us salute our flag with pride for it is our identity as Zimbabwe.