Bereng Mpaki
THE Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) has introduced a new M200 bank note which will go into circulation in April this year.
CBL Governor, Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, said the new bill was part of the family of M10, M20, M50 and M100 bank notes that were first launched in 2010.
“It gives me great pleasure and pride to announce to you that very soon, the Central Bank of Lesotho will be launching a new M200 banknote to the public,” Dr Matlanyane said during a press briefing this week.
“This new banknote is part of the current family of banknotes featuring portraits of three generations of Basotho Kings which was first launched in 2010.
“This new M200 banknote will be launched on the 1 April 2016. The old M200 banknote featuring the portrait of the founding father of the nation, King Moshoeshoe I, shall continue to be recognised as legal tender alongside the new one until its stocks are completely depleted.”
She said the new bill had enhanced security features to prevent counterfeits.
“The nation is advised that posters and pamphlets bearing the pictures of the new banknote and explaining the various security features shall be posted all over the public offices and business centers around the country,” said Dr Matlanyane.
“The objective will be to ensure that the nation appreciates the look of the new banknote and to learn about its security features before it is launched.”
The governor said workshops and public gatherings would be held under the theme “Know Your Money” across the country before and after the circulation of the bill.
“Large businesses are encouraged to approach the Central Bank to get the posters and pamphlets for the benefit of their workforce and customers,” she said.
“Members of the public are, therefore, requested to embrace this new bank note and to carefully learn its security features in order to avoid being defrauded.”
CBL Director of Operations, Seabata Ntelo, said the new banknote had three levels of security features to prevent counterfeits.
He said some of the features were visible to the naked eye while others were identifiable by touch. Some of the security features could be detected by certain public devices while others could only be identified by CBL devices.
“The recognisable features of the bill include the raised print of genuine currency, a watermark of King Moshoeshoe I, a reflective silver strip and a Mosotho man on horseback on the back of the note,” Mr Ntelo said.
“We did not launch the bill in 2010 because we had a lot of stock at the time and it would have been too costly to re-print. Again, at the time, the limited market demand for the M200 bill did not warrant a re-print.”