Zimbabwe launches new bank notes aimed at boosting confidence in local currency

Zimbabwe’s central bank has begun circulating upgraded ZiG banknotes as part of an effort to make the local currency more practical and more trusted in everyday transactions.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said the new notes started entering circulation on April 7, 2026. The first denominations in the rollout are ZiG10, ZiG20 and ZiG50, with ZiG100 and ZiG200 to follow later if needed.

Officials have described the new series as a replacement for older ZiG banknotes, not the launch of a new currency. The bank has said the move is intended to improve cash availability, note quality and transactional convenience, while supporting wider use of ZiG alongside digital payments.

The rollout was flagged in the central bank’s 2026 Monetary Policy Statement and repeated in later state-linked reporting, which said authorities were seeking business buy-in before the launch. The Reserve Bank also said the new notes would not increase money supply.

The updated banknotes come as Zimbabwe continues to try to stabilize confidence in ZiG, the local currency introduced last year. Officials have framed the new physical cash as one part of a broader policy push that includes public awareness campaigns and other measures to support the currency’s use.

How quickly the notes are taken up by banks, businesses and the public will be a key test of the rollout in the coming weeks.