The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has advised that it will release new Malawi Kwacha banknotes which include features designed for people with visual impairments.
The Bank advised they would start to issue the new banknotes from August this year.
The change comes following requests from the Malawi Union of the Blind (MUB) and the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma). The last Malawi banknotes released were as recently as 2012 but have caused complications for those with visual impairments using them in cash transactions.
RBM Governor Charles Chuka advised the banknote series would include new features allowing users to distinguish between the notes more easily.
- K20: one large dot
- K50: two large dots
- K100: three large dots
- K500: a square
- K1000: four large dots
In addition, there will be a colour change of the K50 from light blue to light green to differentiate it from the K200 banknote.
A commemorative K1000 note is to be issued in July 2014 to celebrate 50 years of independence which will circulate alongside the current K1000 banknote.
Source: Various Malawi news sites
