Malawi’s new MK1,000 banknote in circulation

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s new upgraded MK1, 000 banknote is now in circulation effective, Monday, February 1, 2021.

The new banknotes aims at improving security features when in use.

Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Director of Currency Management Joseph Milner said the central bank had already injected MK649 million into commercial banks for circulation.

The upgraded bank note has five new security features introduced after the central bank noted that the second highest denomination of the Kwacha was falling victim to fodgers.

The characters include a spark live which is fish shaped that is located in front and changes colour from gold to green when tilted and a watermark.

The watermark is an image embedded inside the banknote. When the note is viewed against direct light, the watermark appears as a portrait of Kamuzu Banda with the number 1,000 below it.

It also has a security thread placed vertically near the centre at the back of the note which changes colour from green to blue once the note is tilted, improved roughness and a holographic foil stripe.

Speaking when announcing plans to unveil the new banknote last year, RBM Governor Wilson Banda was optimistic that it would enhance security of the currency.

“Since its introduction, there have been a number of developments in the currency industry that have necessitated an upgrade of some of the features of the MK1000 banknote. This upgrade therefore is in terms of enhancement of security features,” Banda said as quoted in the Daily Times.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.