Before independence, the country of Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia. In 1890, the first flag to be flown in the area was the flag of the British South Africa Company, a Union Jack with central lion. In 1953, Northern Rhodesia joined Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi) to become the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. During its existence between 1953 and 1963, the federation used a blue ensign flag with an emblem featuring aspects from each country. Zambia gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 24, 1964, and immediately adopted its current flag. The flag has been designed by Mrs. Gabriel Ellison - who was head of the Graphics Arts Department in Zambia's Ministry of Information.
The green color of the flag symbolizes the country's agricultural wealth and rich vegetation. The red for the nation's struggle for freedom. The black color represents the people of Zambia, and the orange color represents the country's natural resources and its mineral wealth (primarily copper). The African fish eagle flying above the vertical stripes corresponds to the one in Zambia's original coat of arms from 1939 while it was known as Northern Rhodesia. The eagle symbolizes freedom and the ability of the Zambian people to rise above national problems.
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