Flag of Botswana
The flag of Botswana is light blue with a black horizontal stripe across the middle, edged above and below by thin white stripes.
At a glance
- Adopted
- September 30, 1966
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Continent
- Africa
- Colours
- light blue
- white
- black
What it means
- Light blue: water and rain, which are precious in this dry country; Botswana's motto is "Pula", which means rain, and its money is also called the pula
- Black stripe with white edges: black and white people living together in harmony
Where it came from
The flag was designed by George Winstanley, a British official working for Botswana's first government. The government had held a public design contest, but he called the entries "hopeless" and drew the flag himself.
History
Before independence the land was the Bechuanaland Protectorate, under British rule from 1885, and it flew the British Union Jack. It had no flag of its own.
The new flag was first raised at midnight on 30 September 1966, when Botswana became independent. It has never changed. At the time, choosing black and white side by side was seen as a clear rejection of the racial rule in nearby South Africa and Rhodesia.
Fun facts
- Botswana's flag is one of only a few African flags that do not use the pan-African colours red, yellow and green.
- The stripes are measured in 24 parts: 9 blue, 1 white, 4 black, 1 white and 9 blue.
- At independence it was seen as a statement against apartheid in neighbouring South Africa.
- Insulting the flag is against the law in Botswana.
Easy to mix up with
Estonia: Estonia also has blue, black and white, but in three equal stripes with blue on top and white at the bottom
Questions
What does the flag of Botswana look like?
The flag of Botswana is light blue with a black horizontal stripe across the middle, edged above and below by thin white stripes.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Botswana mean?
Light blue: water and rain, which are precious in this dry country; Botswana's motto is "Pula", which means rain, and its money is also called the pula; Black stripe with white edges: black and white people living together in harmony.
When was the flag of Botswana adopted?
The current flag of Botswana was adopted on September 30, 1966.
What colours are on the flag of Botswana?
The flag of Botswana uses light blue, white and black.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Botswana?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Estonia. Estonia also has blue, black and white, but in three equal stripes with blue on top and white at the bottom
Famous landmarks in Botswana
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Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)