The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will introduce new ZiG banknotes on April 7, 2026, Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu has announced.
Dr Mushayavanhu said the new notes will circulate alongside existing notes while worn-out ones will gradually be withdrawn from the system.
Presenting the 2026 Monetary Policy Statement today, Dr Mushayavanhu revealed that a statutory instrument to formalise the roll-out will be published before the end of the day.
“We have the ZiG10 and ZiG20 notes in the system. We’re going to introduce new notes—they will circulate side by side,” he explained.
The Governor also outlined the process of gradually replacing older notes with new ones.
“When that money comes to the banking system, banks are expected to take the old notes and bring them to the central bank. We will destroy the old notes and give them value in new notes.”
Dr Mushayavanhu confirmed that the new series of notes will include additional denominations to expand the range of ZiG currency available for transactions.
“So it is going to be ZiG10, ZiG20, and ZiG50. The ZiG100 and ZiG 200 notes will be introduced as and when the RBZ sees fit.”
He reiterated that the introduction of new banknotes will not be inflationary as the issuance will be strictly demand-driven.
Banks will exchange electronic balances held at the central bank for physical cash, meaning there will be no net increase in reserve money.
The Governor announced that the central bank will conduct a comprehensive public education campaign between now and the 7th of April to ensure citizens are able to identify the security features on the new notes.
RBZ officials have previously emphasised that the new notes will be durable, modern, and fitted with enhanced security features to rebuild public confidence in the local currency.
The new notes form part of a broader policy framework aimed at entrenching macroeconomic stability and supporting the eventual transition to a mono-currency system once the conditions precedent are met.-herald
