The all-new P10 bank note
Wednesday, November 29, 2017

In accordance with Section 24 (2) of the Bank of Botswana Act [CAP. 55:01], the Bank took the decision, to change the substrate for the P10 banknote, with the approval of the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
In addition to addressing the durability of the banknote, the conversion to polymer enables the adoption of more advanced security features, such as see-through windows that contain hard-to-forge images, hence curtailing the potential for currency counterfeiting and enhancing confidence in the national currency.
Instead, it has sparked a storm of accusations, denials, and unresolved questions about the influence of De Beers on the nation’s politics. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s claims that the diamond giants bankrolled his removal to dodge taxes – and that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government watered down a favourable diamond deal – are explosive matters. But without evidence, they risk becoming a toxic distraction from...