The National Flag!
By Dickson Jere
While on duty in Uganda – I squeezed in a round of golf – like I always do when I travel. So, after the game, I was imbibing an ice-cold local pint called Tusker when I got disturbed by a high-pitched sound of a whistle. Everyone at hole number 19 (club house) instantly stood at attention. Golfers who were putting on the nearby greens threw away their clubs and joined in unison. In panic, I instinctively followed suit without knowing what was happening.
The whistleblower – a private security guard – stood at the flag mast. He slowly pulled the strings and brought down the National Flag.
It was 18:00 hours – time for lowering the flag!
He then nicely folded the flag, saluted, and blew the whistle again. Everyone, instantly, took their seats and continued with their chores as the whistle man marched out with the left and right flank. I found the whole thing amazing! The precision and respect accorded to this ritual by everyone is a marvel!
You see, yesterday, I played some really bad golf. So after prize giving and hole number 19 stuff, and in frustration, I rushed to the office to finish up some work. I took independence Avenue.
At Cabinet Office, I noticed that the National Flag was flying at full mast. And so was the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Supreme Court Building. It was slightly after 18:00 hours.
What has happened? I wondered.
The law is clear about flying of the National Flag – unless it was recently amended.
The National Flag and Armorial Ensigns Act of 1965, Chapter 6 of the Laws of Zambia, regulates the use of the flag.
Regulation 7 reads; “The National Flag shall be flown only between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and any person who contravenes the provisions of this regulation shall be guilty of an offense.”
The penalty for breaching this law is three months jail. I don’t know how many people can go to jail if enforced.
“The National Flag shall be flown with due respect and, when flown with other flags, the National Flag shall be in a more prominent position than other flags,” the law further reads.
It also criminalizes “insulting” the National Flag and the Standard – that orange flag flown by the President. Interestingly, this law also prohibits the sale of goods which have the Zambian Flag without permission from government.
It is also an offence to fly a dirty or torn flag!
Ok, let us go back to lowering the flag.
Those who grew up in military barracks are familiar with this ritual. Once the bugle is sounded, everyone is supposed to stand at attention. It is done at 06:00 hours in the morning and 18:00 hours in the evening.
At State House, the same ritual is religiously practiced by the neatly dressed Army sentries, those stationed at the main entrance. It’s a spectacle to watch them marched away!
In short, no flag should ever fly in the night! (Stand down).
By the way, only government buildings or premises occupied by government institutions should fly the National Flag. The rest, you need permission do so, except on public holidays such as Africa Freedom Day, Heroes Day, Unity Day and Independence Day.
Anyway, after change of government in 1991, we started associating these laws to UNIP and KK and eventually lost the respect. These days people move around while the National Anthem is playing and most can hardly sing a line!
Not when I was young…one would be sjambokked for such behavior! Not anymore…
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