The flag of Namibia was adopted on 21 March 1990 upon independence from South Africa.

The National Symbols Sub-Committee received 870 entries for the national flag. Six designs were short-listed; this was reduced to three, those of three Namibians – Theo Jankowski of Rehoboth, Don Stevenson of Windhoek and Ortrud Clay of Lüderitz. These three designs were combined to form the Namibia national flag, adopted unanimously on 2 February 1990 by the Constituent Assembly. The three designers were publicly acknowledged by judge Hans Berker, the chairman of the subcommittee, at the unveiling ceremony on 9 March 1990.[dubious – discuss]

However, two other claims were made – South African Frederick Brownell claimed that he had designed the flag in his role as South African State Herald. The other claimant was Briton Roy Allen, who claimed that the flag design was the result of a competition run by Hannes Smith of the Windhoek Observer, and that he had won.

The chairman explained the symbolism of the flag's colours as follows:

Red – represents Namibia's most important resource, its people. It refers to their heroism and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all.

White – represents peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony.

Green – symbolises vegetation and agricultural resources.

Blue – represents the clear Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain.

Golden-yellow sun – life and energy