The Flag of Botswana
Flag of Botswana
Design and Explanation of the Flag of Botswana
The national flag, adopted in 1966, symbolically contrasted with the flag of neighbouring South Africa, where the policies of apartheid were in effect. Botswana proclaimed in the flag’s central black stripe and its white bordering stripes a belief in racial cooperation and equality. The light blue background of the flag is associated with the sky and with water, a scarce and precious commodity in the vast Kalahari desert. The importance of water is also reflected in the motto that appears in the national coat of arms. The colours on the flag correspond to those on the national coat of arms. The blue represents water (the motto on the national arms is PULA, meaning “let there be rain”). The white-black-white bands depict the racial harmony of the people as well as the pluralist nature of the society. They are inspired by the coat of the zebra, the national animal.
Overall Flag width-to-length ratio is 2 to 3.
Five horizontal stripes having colour and width as follows, that is to say taken from the top:
1st Stripe – azure blue having a width equal to 9/24ths of the total depth of the flag.
2nd Stripe – white having a width equal to 1/24th of such depth.
3rd Stripe – black having a width equal to 4/24ths of such depth.
4th Stripe – white having a width equal to 1/24th of such depth.
5th Stripe – azure blue having a width equal to 9/24ths of such depth.
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I was also told by a resident of Maun that the flag colours are represented in the tail of the Lilac Breasted Roller (Botswana’s national bird) while in flight. Perhaps just a coincidence.
KStevenson,
In righting this article, I viewed several sites, including the Botswana government web site. I didn’t see anything noting the colors of the Roller, but it is a nice coincidence. Thanks for commenting.
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