Malawi announces new note and revises current series

The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has announced new and revised banknotes. The new banknote will be a special issue of 1000 kwacha in commemoration of the country’s 50 years of independence. This commemorative issue will be issued on independence day 6 July 2014 and it will have "50 Years of Independence" written on the right hand bottom corner. It will circulate alongside the current 1,000 kwacha note and both notes will be legal tender.

Besides the new note there was the announcement by RBM governor Peter Chuka that the current series, which was introduced in 2012, will get an updated design with features for blind people. This decision had been made in response to feedback from the public, especially the Malawi Union for the Blind. Some of the banknotes which will have enhanced blind features are the 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kwacha. This would mean that the 20 kwacha won't be updated?

Update: The new enhanced banknote series will be issued in August 2014.

Update (2): and here is the new commemorative note: