Malawian Kwacha - Banknotes

Banknotes

In 1971, banknotes dated 1964 were introduced in denominations of 50 tambala, 1, 2 and 10 kwacha. 5 kwacha notes were introduced in 1973 when the 2 kwacha note was discontinued. 20 kwacha notes were introduced in 1983. 50 tambala notes were last issued in 1986, with the last 1 kwacha notes printed in 1990. In 1993, 50 kwacha notes were introduced, followed by 100 kwacha in 1993, 200 kwacha in 1995 and 500 kwacha in 2001.

As of 2008, the following banknote denominations are in circulation:

1997 Series
Image	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description		Date of first printing
Image	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Obverse	Reverse	Date of first printing
	K5	126 × 63 mm	Green	John Chilembwe	Villagers mashing grain	1 July 1997
	K10	132 × 66 mm	Brown		Children in "bush" school
	K20	138 × 69 mm	Purple		Workers harvesting tea leaves
	K50	144 × 72 mm	Blue		Independence Arc in Blantyre
	K100	150 × 75 mm	Red		Capital Hill in Lilongwe
	K200	156 × 78 mm	Blue		Reserve Bank building in Lilongwe
	K500	162 × 81 mm	Multi-colour		Reserve Bank building in Blantyre	1 December 2001

According to an article on Nyasa Times dated 9 March 2012, within the next six months the Reserve Bank of Malawi will introduce a whole new series of notes, including a 1,000-kwacha note, twice the largest denomination currently in circulation. The notes were announced in Biantyre on 8 March by Governor Dr. Perks Ligoya. The new notes will be much smaller in size than the current notes, which serves as a cost-cutting measure. The new 1,000-kwacha note is to be printed by De La Rue.

On 23 May 2012, the Nyasa Times reported that the Reserve Bank of Malawi introduced the new 1,000 Kwacha note into circulation along with the proposed new notes. The new 1,000 Kwacha note is valued at around $4 USD. The new Kwacha has the face of the first president Kamuzu Banda on the front and the back carries a depiction of Mzuzu maize silos.

On May 23, the new 20 kwacha note contained an error. On the back of the note is a building identified as the Domasi Teacher's Training College (now known as the Domasi College of Education). However it's reported that the building is in fact the Machinga Teacher's Training College.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi will revise its new family of notes (which were introduced on May 23, 2012) so that they are more "blind friendly". According to the Malawi Union of the Blind, the current notes have raised dots to aid in recognition of the denominations, but the dots are too small to be useful.

2012 Series
Image	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description		Date of first printing
Image	Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Obverse	Reverse	Date of first printing
	K20	128 × 64 mm	Purple and orange	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters in Lilongwe; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere)	Domasi Teachers Training College building and tree; stack of books and mortarboard	23 May 2012
	K50	128 × 64 mm	Light blue, orange, and green	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseko)	Elephants, tree, and safari vehicle in Kasungu National Park
	K100	128 × 64 mm	Red and orange	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; James Frederick Sangala	College of Medicine in Blantyre; stethoscope
	K200	132 × 66 mm	Blue, violet, and orange	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Rose Lomathinda Chibambo	New Parliament building in Lilongwe
	K500	132 × 66 mm	Brown, orange, and light blue	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Reverend John Chilembwe	Mulunguzi dam in Zomba; water spigot; silhouette of woman carrying container on head and man carrying hoe over shoulder
	K1000	132 × 66 mm	Green and orange	Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda	Mzuzu maize silos; stalk of maize (corn); silhouette of two people mashing maize

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