Bank of Botswana puts limited edition commemorative P50 banknote into circulation from 6 February 2026

The Bank of Botswana announced that its commemorative BWP 50 (P50) banknote, launched during the Bank’s Golden Jubilee celebrations on 12 September 2025, will enter circulation on 6 February 2026. The note is legal tender, issued in limited quantity, and will circulate alongside the existing P50 banknote featuring Sir Seretse Khama. The commemorative note will not be reprinted and will remain in use until withdrawn through natural attrition. It preserves the existing P50’s tourism theme while adding new imagery including the Bank’s redeveloped headquarters (PulaThebe building) and the Motswedi diamond, with the reverse featuring Botswana’s 2024 Olympians Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi and Anthony Pesela. Security features are broadly consistent with the current note but include an updated feature replacing the holographic strip with an animated colour shifting thread showing a running athlete, while retaining elements such as braille dots for the visually impaired. Distribution will be through commercial banks nationwide, and the Bank encouraged the public to familiarise themselves with the new design and security features.