thumb|196x196px|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,

Design

The design of the national flag of Zambia is described in National Flag and Armorial Ensigns Act of 4 June 1965. || 20, 127, 85 || 212, 8, 41 || 0, 0, 0 || 249, 152, 21

|-

| Hexadecimal In 2012 the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games solicited advice from each participating nation in specifying the correct Pantone colours for its flag. Once confirmed, the results were published in a guide. The colours given were:

thumbnail|left|The flag of Zambia according to the correct [[Pantone colours.]]

Symbolism

The flag's colours and emblems are rich in symbolism. Each of the four colours represents an aspect of Zambia: green for the country's natural resources and vegetation; red for its struggle for freedom; black for its people and orange for its mineral wealth (primarily copper). The eagle is an African fish eagle, which also appears in the national coat of arms and represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.

Flag protocol

thumbnail|right|The flag flying outside the [[Lundazi Council building]]

By law, the Zambian flag should be flown only between the hours of sunrise and sunset and may be flown:

  • at buildings or premises owned or occupied by the Government;
  • at buildings or premises owned or occupied by local government authorities;
  • at buildings or premises owned or occupied by any statutory board or statutory corporation;
  • at state-aided schools;
  • on any motor car, boat or ship in or by which a Minister of Government is for the time being travelling;