The Bank of Zambia has commenced the issuance of new K100 and K50 banknotes under the Heritage Series, marking a significant milestone in the rollout of the new currency notes.
Bank of Zambia Assistant Director for Communications, Besnat Mwanza said the move completes the full rollout of the Heritage Series banknotes into circulation.
Ms Mwanza revealed that the new banknotes feature has advanced security elements, unique cultural motifs, as well as distinctive designs that celebrate Zambia’s rich heritage.
“They are designed to improve transaction security, enhance public confidence in the monetary system, and provide a symbol of national pride,” she said.
Ms Mwanza pointed out that the banknotes reveal Zambia’s rich cultural heritage plus natural beauty.
She stated that bank notes also have feature elements such as the flying African Fish Eagle, six major waterfalls, advanced security features among other features to prevent counterfeiting.
“ Raised ink patterns enhance accessibility for visually impaired users,” she added.
Ms Mwanza further emphasised that the Bank of Zambia has already withdrawn K9.9 billion worth of old notes, representing 44.3% of those previously in circulation.
The old K100 and K50 notes will cease to be legal tender, and the public is encouraged to exchange them for new notes.
“To facilitate a smooth transition, the Bank of Zambia has launched the Zambian Banknotes mobile application, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store,” she said.
She also added that the app provides interactive visuals and detailed explanations of the new notes security features, helping users to distinguish between genuine notes and counterfeits.
Ms Mwanza further urged the public to familiarise themselves with the new banknotes and report any suspicious activity.
“This initiative aims to strengthen public confidence in the monetary system and promote a cashless economy while catering to citizens who rely on cash transactions,” she added.
The introduction of the Heritage Series notes is a positive step for security and national pride, but it cannot mask the real challenges facing our economy. With ongoing load shedding and disruptions to daily life, a currency upgrade alone won’t fix power outages or boost people’s confidence in governance. Voters deserve policy actions that address the root causes: reliable electricity, transparent budgeting, and credible plans to restore energy security. Until those issues are meaningfully tackled, currency changes risk being seen as cosmetic rather than transformative for the country’s future.
The cost of living is very high under the UPND. Remember UPND think CDF and Free education is the solution to Zambias problems but they can not see that its not working for the past 4 years. Zambia is worse off than 4 years ago. In Burkina Faso, its the people shouting kwenyu on their own, the real kwenyu not the AI one like in Zambia where it is the politicians forcing people to shout back kwenyu
I still do not get the idea that each time a new currency comes out there is an almost immediate phase out of the old. Do we always get outrun by fraudsters so easily? Does that mean our security features are never foolproof over a much longer period? So those with old notes outside the country will suddenly be marooned when they travel back after the currency is discontinued? Why? Is it that we suddenly are unable to identify fake currency? I know countries that keep bringing out new currency without sucking out the old like an over enthusiastic vacuum cleaner…
Would you also start educating our people on how to handle money please. Already some of our new notes are already looking very old because people squash the notes. It’s strange that people have so much respect for the dollar and they keep them nicely but not our currency. It’s very expensive to print notes but if we sensitize our people such unnecessary costs can be done away with. Bank of Zambia please take this initiative.
@Concerned Citizen …and yet the USD is fiat currency that is not backed by any commodity!
Do y’all remember the false PF promise of “more money in your pocket in 90 days” ? The Kwacha fittingly refused those lies.(or was it karma?)
Will these new notes drag us from the pit? How about just another rebate? Trade in the 100 for 10.
MAKGA-Make Kwacha Great Again!
*rebase
Arent you alarming the citizens? This isnt the way to report ba journalists “The old K100 and K50 notes will cease to be legal tender, and the public is encouraged to exchange them for new notes.”
WHEN will they cease?
THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE SMALL ROOM IS THE SUFFOCATING ECONOMY.
KWACHA WE ARE TOLD IS GAINING BUT PRICES ARE STUBBORNLY UP THERE
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE
AND WHY ARE WE STILL HAVING LOAD SHEDDING AFTER RECORD RAINS?
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