Government has intensified sensitization programmes on the enhanced Zambian Bank notes in Masaiti District on the Copperbelt Province.
Bank of Zambia Information and Communication Technology Manager, Paul Sikalinda says the new bank notes have been introduced to curb counterfeiting of the Zambian kwacha.
Mr Sikalinda said the new bank notes have also been necessitated to ensure quality and durability of the currency.
Mr Sikalinda said this during a courtesy call on Masaiti Council Chairperson Christine Chande at her office today.
“Two reasons necessitated this move by the Bank of Zambia. One there are people who make fake notes. These notes now have new enhanced security features which will be difficult for them to imitate. The second reason is quality, these are of better quality and will last longer,” he said
Mr Sikalinda stated that government’s goal was to ensure that every person knows and understands the new features on the notes.
Earlier Bank of Zambia Security Officer Bwembya Mulopa addressed a gathering of community members and stakeholders where he explained the new features on the Kwacha notes.
Mr Mulopa disclosed among others that the new notes include marks on the both sides that will allow the blind and visually impaired to run their fingers along the edges to know which note they were holding.
Meanwhile, Masaiti District Commissioner Mike Musonda and his Counterpart the Masaiti Council Chairperson Christine Chande have pledged to conduct sensitizing programmes amongst the people in the district.
The two leaders said they would seize every opportunity during their meetings and activities to sensitize people on the new notes.
Do we even have a major counterfeiting problem in Zambia?
The government should explain how much this exercise is costing the treasury.
They should also explain who won the contract to print this money.
This PF government has a bad habit of starting unnecessary projects, and we all know why.
Masaiti as a district is attracting alot of attention of late.
We will soon know why…….
A whole bank of Zambia to go and brag about sensitising for new bank notes in a district!
Fishy indeed!!!
And yes off course as said my friend they need to justify the need and cost related to the same.
In future, The bank of Zambia and other government institutions should consider sending awareness through many available social media platforms and government internet access points i.e., schools district offices, police offices and other government institutions. Its high time government start putting cost cutting austerity measures into reality through conduct. Government has already spent for interconnectivity, why should ZRA move and spend when they can also use the internet.
my thoughts too,its cheaper to organize 200 govt and traditional leaders .BOZ can pay for a one day workshop and these grassroot leaders can go and summon their subject and explain the new banknotes.but we all know tuma ALLOWANCE is the reason why .