The art of flags and heraldry

The laws pertaining to it are subject to the courts of the realm.
In 1980 when Lord Soames, the British emissary sent by Queen Elizabeth II, of England, lowered the Union Jack (the British flag) and its Rhodesian replacement (green and white),the then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, The Honourable President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Robert Mugabe, hoisted the New Zimbabwean Flag – and our new Post-Colonial Identity was born. But what does our Flat mean to us?
Lessons from Scotland
This writer undertook the scientific study of the Art of Heraldry in the mid-1990s as part of a case study assignment at the renowned Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Ivon Court in Edinburgh, Scotland. Why Scotland? The Scots are the world leaders in armorial legislation and scientific national clan identity legislation.
Scottish heraldry has long been famous not only for its antiquity, but also for its originality, scientific accuracy and the manner in which their heraldry has been culturally preserved, as well as their high standard of medieval armoury, cultural and totemic codes and heritage.
Scots heraldry is a highly specialised branch governed by the law of heritable property. They are known for their whole-hearted veneration for everything pertaining to rank, lineage, honours, dignities and ensigns – armorial which encompass bonds of kinship and the love of their land.
For the Scots the clannish ties (dzinza) of relationship permeate every strand of society, not unlike our traditional Shona system of clan, totem, and clan chieftainship which unite us as Zimbabweans in an indigenous homely way – which the abstract tenets of democracy can never achieve. As a result the Scottish people are a proud nation, who for long have remained a stalwart people. It is from this background that this writer discusses some aspects of the Art of Heraldry in relation to the symbolism denoted by the Zimbabwean Flag.
Peddling our identity
In the past years, one may have witnessed replicas of the Zimbabwean flag being sold and peddled at traffic lights, on the streets, or outside shop fronts and outside nightclubs. Mini flags, badges, bottle openers and car stickers have become hot commodities.
Today banners and labels bearing the National Flag insignia appear on many items from T-shirts to coffee mugs, beer mugs, tracksuits, key rings, lapel pins and even commuter mini busses bear stickers hailing our National Flag.
But while the commodification of the national pride might be a good thing – as an artist, designer, one often wonders if the public actually know the importance of the flag. What it means and what values it extols? What do the colours symbolise?
Understanding The Art Of The Flag
An important aspect of any nation’s life is the way in which it sees itself, locally, regionally and within the international community. The colours of the flag give a unique insight into the multiple facets of our collective symbols, being and identity as a Nation.
It allows us insight into our beliefs and genus as Zimbabweans and forms an essential part of our heritage, memory and aspirations.
There are disciplines of conventions of design, line and colours which are world approved and acknowledged making communication possible between the flag, its people and outside viewers. The national ethos we wish to propagate, our origins, history and future aspirations are encoded in the flag.
It is a stamp of National Pride.
When we celebrate our victory at a football match, wave the flag, drape it around our naked body, paint our faces in “Zimbabwean” colours, wear the flag as a provocative “boob-tube”, “mono-kini/bikini”, hip-hop bandana, what are we saying about our flag and ourselves? When one steps on the flag when the National football team loses, what are we communicating? Whilst chanting “yave nyama yekugocha”, etc.
Zimbabweans need to know that the flag is sacred, that the Green, Yellow, Red, Black and White go beyond mere art, design and colour. We are the flag, we are virtually born by it, live by it and are identified by it – our heroes have died for it. The Flag is the “groundnorm” of what Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans stand for.
In conclusion, parents, teachers, lecturers, etc. need to teach and reorient the youth and elders of what the flag means? We need to uphold the virtues of our National Flag.

l Dr Tony Monda holds an International PhD in Modern Art Theory and Philosophy, and a DBA in Arts and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a practicing visual artist, art critic and Corporate Image Consultant.