flag of Zambia

The arms of Northern Rhodesia, featuring the eagle, date to 1927. The national flag of Zambia was adopted upon independence on 24 October 1964, by the first Republican president, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda. Before that, Zambia was the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia and used a Blue Ensign as its flag.

The current flag is used as both national flag and ensign. It is green with an orange-coloured African fish eagle in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes, coloured, from left to right: red, black and orange. The placement of the eagle and block of stripes at the flag's fly is notable as most emblems and devices on flags are placed at centre or at the hoist. Green stands for the nation's agriculture and lush flora, red for the nation's struggle for freedom, black for the Zambian people and all black Africans, and orange for the land's copper, natural resources in general, and mineral wealth. Additionally, the eagle flying above the coloured stripes is intended to represent freedom and the people's ability to rise above the nation's issues.