1890 - 1900

On the 13th September 1890 Lieutenant Tyndale - Biscoe of the Pioneer column, hoisted the Union Jack on a tree at the site which was to become Salisbury, capital city of Rhodesia.

Rhodesia was administered by the British South Africa Company, whose flag flew over the country until the referendum of 1923. At this referendum, the people of Rhodesia chose to become a self governing dominion within the British Empire, rather than a province of South Africa.

The new self governing dominion of Southern Rhodesia adopted this flag in 1923. The design was based on those of the other dominions and colonies of the British Empire.

In 1953, a Federation was formed with the British colonies of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). A new flag was adopted, still based upon the usual dominion and colonial pattern.

As a direct consequence of the British governments rush to leave Africa, the Federation was disolved in 1963. Southern Rhodesia reverted to its dominion status and adopted a new flag. This flag, although similar to that of 1923 - 1953, had a much lighter shade of blue in the main field.

On the 11th November 1965, Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent from the British Empire and became Rhodesia. The classic green and white flag was adopted in 1968, and will forever symbolize the country. In 1970, Rhodesia declared itself a republic, severing its links to the British crown.

In 1978, an agreement was reached with the moderate black African nationalist leaders for majority rule. Elections were held in 1979. Abel Muzorewa became the first black prime minister, and the country adopted the new name of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, and a new flag. This new flag first flew in 1979.

During the Lancaster House talks held in London in 1979 between the British government, the government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, and the external marxist terrorist leaders, Mugabe and Nkomo, the weak willed Abel Muzorewa agreed to fresh elections. These fraudulent elections held in 1980, in which the terrorists used terror and intimidation to gain votes, brought to power Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party. As part of the Lancaster house agreement, Rhodesia reverted briefly to British control, and to officially flying the Union Jack.

On April 18th 1980, in a painfully twee and self important ceremony, the Union Jack was hauled down and the new Zimbabwean flag, basically a ZANU PF party banner with a few additions, raised. The new marxist Republic of Zimbabwe had officially come into being. Within twenty years it would undo all the progress which Rhodesia had achieved, and become a despotic, corrupt and bankrupt dictatorship.