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Mozambique to get new national flag
African Eye News Service (South Africa) September 2, 1999
MAPUTO, Mozambique - Mozambique's parliament launched a snap competition
on Thursday to redesign the country's flag and national coat of arms, African
Eye News Service (South
Africa) reports. The public competition was authorised after the country's
largest opposition party, RENAMO, refused to approve amendments to Mozambique's
constitution without first changing the "militaristic" national flag and
emblem. RENAMO objects to the inclusion of an AK47 assault rifle, communist
symbolism and the predominant colours of the ruling FRELIMO party in the
flag.
The planned constitutional amendments are essential for wider economic
and legal reform but FRELIMO has beenunable to muster the required two
thirds majority in parliament without support from RENAMO. FRELIMO currently
has 129 seats in parliament - 38 short of a two-thirds majority. The parliament's
current session sits until the end of September. Parliament announced on
Thursday that the national competition would be open to all Mozambican
artists,
graphic designers and the general public. Designers have to submit
their suggestions by midday on September 16 and have to include references
to the blood spilt during Mozambique liberation struggle against the Portuguese,
the spirit of national unity, peace, social justice and freedom. The winning
entry will be awarded US$12 000 and should include detailed suggestions
for both a new national flag and a coat of arms.
Mozambique's current flag features
an AK47 assault rifle crossed with a hoe on a field of horizontal red,
green, black, gold and white stripes. The rifle and hoe are offset to the
left-hand side of the flag, superimposed on an open book in a red triangle.
The flag is meant to convey Mozambique's commitment to equal education,
productive labour and sovereign defence. Mozambique's current coat of arms
features another AK47 and hoe crossed over an open book, all superimposed
on a map of Mozambique. The circular emblem is framed by stylised cogged
or
a toothed wheel, symbolising the country's working classes and its
drive to industrialise. It also features an ear of maize and a stick of
sugar cane, symbolising agriculture.
All entries for the new flag and emblems will be opened for judging by a panel of prominent Mozambicans at a public ceremony two days after the competition closes. The five-member jury will consist of prominent Mozambican artists and intellectuals, three of whom will be chosen by FRELIMO and two by RENAMO.
Copyright (c) 1999 African Eye News Service. Distributed via Africa
News Online (www.africanews.org). Originally at this
URL.
Jan Oskar Engene, 3 Sep 1999
I am not sure whether detailed schedule of the new flag competition
in Mozambique has been published in FOTW. It is as follows:
September 16 - deadline for sending proposals
September 20 (tomorrow) - the jury will have to assess the entries
September 22 - final vote in the parliament
Jan Zrzavy, 19 Sep 1999
The competition has been held, and the jury has made its choice out
of the 119 entries. It chose a design by prominent Mozambican architect,
Jose Forjaz. However, this design has not yet been published, and it must
be ratified next week by the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the
Republic. Ratification of the new flag is part of a package which includes
a new national emblem, a new national anthem, and a series of constitutional
amendments. I doubt whether this package will be passed, because the main
opposition party, Renamo, objects to the main constitutional changes. But
without the constitutional changes, there almost certainly won't be a new
flag either.
Paul Fauvet, 24 Sep 1999
Did Mozambique ever get the new flag being discussed in 1999?
What is the status of that?
John Wyatt, 25 Dec 2000
There is no new mozambican flag. Discussion over this matter along with
a revision of the national anthem has stalled. Maybe in the near future...
who knows?
Rui Quinta, 25 Mar 2001
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