The Republic of Mozambique

The National Flag of Mozambique

FRELIMO, was a Communist party set up in 1962 to fight for Mozambiques independence from Portugal. They initially adopted a banner the same as many other Communist parties, a red banner. In the hoist, they placed their version of the hammer and sickle. They used a crossed hoe and hammer, topped with a golden star.

As FRELIMO moved closer to winning independence for Mozambique, they adopted new colours. Taking the gold, black, and green of South Africa's ANC, they arranged them as a horizontal tricolour. Running green, black, and yellow. Each line divided by a thin stripe of white. With a red (Communism) triangle at the hoist side.

Upon independence in 1975, the flag was altered. Now, in the upper hoist canton, the new emblem for Mozambique. A cog wheel formed the surround, representing industry. Inside, a book, representing the educated, a hoe, representing agriculture, and an AK47, representing the struggle for independence. Also included is a red star for Communism. The flags colours of green, black, red, and yellow are now arranged in rays stretching from the top corner of the flag.

From April to MAy in 1983, the flag was altered again, switching back to the flag first used by FRELIMO. Placing the cogwheel logo in the red triangle. This time, placing it over the top of a gold star.

Finally, in May 1983, the flag underwent its final change, with the removal of the small red star, and the cogwheel. Placing the book, hoe, and AK47 directly on the gold star.

The green stands for the richness of the land, the black represents the continent of Africa, and the yellow represents the lands minerals. The red represents the nations struggle for independence. The thin white lines represent peace.

The hoe represents agriculture, the gun represents the determination to defend their land, the book represents education, and the gold star represents Marxism, and internationalisation.