The Bank of Botswana announced that a new emission of P50 and P20 banknotes will be issued into circulation on 15 April 2026 to replenish stocks, bearing the signatures of the current Minister of Finance, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, and the immediate past Governor, Cornelius Dekop. The banknotes retain all existing security features, with the updated signatures described as the only change and the same as those on the recently issued P50 commemorative banknote. The Bank encouraged the public to authenticate the notes using the “look, feel and tilt” method, highlighting key security features including a clear patch watermark with a rampant zebra and denomination visible when held to the light, raised intaglio printing on the denomination numerals, tactile dots to assist visually impaired users (three on the P50 and two on the P20), and tilt features such as a holographic stripe on the P50 and a colour-shifting security thread on the P20 that changes from red to green and reveals “BOB 20”. The new emissions will circulate alongside existing P50, P50 commemorative and P20 banknotes.
Bank of Botswana 2026-04-10
Bank of Botswana to issue new P50 and P20 banknotes with updated signatures from 15 April 2026
The Bank of Botswana will issue new emissions of P50 and P20 banknotes on 15 April 2026 to replenish stocks, featuring updated signatures of the current Minister of Finance and the immediate past Governor but no other design changes. The notes retain existing security features, and the Bank encouraged the public to use the “look, feel and tilt” method to authenticate them. The new emissions will circulate alongside existing P50, P50 commemorative and P20 banknotes.