Botswana’s flag, adopted on 30 September 1966 at independence, is a light‑blue field crossed by a central black stripe edged in white. Blue represents rain and life (pula); black and white together symbolize racial harmony and the diversity of the nation. The design intentionally avoided partisan or pan‑African palettes to emphasize unity and pragmatism. Proportions are typically 2:3; law and protocol regulate construction, respectful handling, precedence, half‑masting, and illumination at night. The flag has remained unchanged since adoption and is taught widely in schools and civic ceremonies.
Botswana’s national flag was enacted on 30 September 1966, the day the former Bechuanaland Protectorate became the independent Republic of Botswana. Before independence the Union Jack served as the territory’s official flag; the new design was created to symbolize the priorities of the state and its people without embedding party insignia or ethnic motifs.
The predominant light blue is a direct reference to water and rain. In a semi‑arid country where drought has shaped demography, agriculture, and policy, rain is celebrated in language and ceremony. The national motto and the common blessing “Pula!” encapsulate this reality. Setting blue as the field foregrounds stewardship of scarce resources and the shared hope for prosperity through prudent management.
Across the centre runs a black horizontal stripe bordered above and below by thin white fimbriations. Black and white together express the principle of racial harmony and equal citizenship. Surrounded at independence by regimes riven by racial division—apartheid South Africa and minority‑ruled Rhodesia—the new republic chose a flag that made nonracial democracy unmistakable. The strong contrast of black and white on blue also ensures legibility at distance.
Official specifications establish a 2:3 ratio; the relative widths of the black stripe and white fimbriations and the exact shade values are standardised to ensure consistent manufacture. Protocol prescribes order of precedence when flown with other flags, dignified retirement of worn flags, half‑masting by proclamation, and illumination if displayed at night. Desecration or commercial misuse is prohibited by statute.
The flag appears on government buildings, schools, border posts, and missions abroad. It anchors Independence Day ceremonies and civic education, where the symbolism—rain as life, black and white for unity—is repeatedly taught. While the coat of arms and presidential standard incorporate distinct motifs, the civil flag remains plain and potent.
No significant redesigns have been proposed or adopted since 1966. The flag’s durability mirrors Botswana’s broader post‑independence trajectory: constitutional continuity, prudent governance, and a civic identity that prioritises unity over factional symbolism.