Josephine Christopher is a senior business journalist for The Citizen and Mwananchi newspapers
Mwananchi Communications Limitted
Dodoma. The Bank of Tanzania is calling for heightened public vigilance as it steps up efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit currency, warning that offenders face some of the country’s harshest penalties, including life imprisonment.
Speaking today November 21,2025 at a journalists’ workshop in Dodoma, senior central bank officer Mr Atufigwegwe Mwakabalula said that counterfeiters are increasingly using sophisticated methods, making it critical for people to understand the tell-tale signs of genuine currency.
Mr Mwakabalula outlined several security elements built into the notes, starting with the watermark showcasing the face of the late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
“The notes also include a perfect see-through register, where partial patterns printed on both sides align seamlessly when held against the light,” he said.
“ Latent images become visible when a note is tilted, while tactile markings on the corners help visually impaired users identify denominations,” he added.
The central bank official said Tanzania’s currency also features the Spark colour-shifting ink patch and an embedded security thread that can be seen clearly when a note is held up.
Some features, including hidden fibres and denomination markers, can only be detected under ultraviolet light, making them difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.
“These are deliberate layers of protection,” he said.
The central bank’s warning is underscored by the severity of the legal consequences.
Under the Penal Code, the production, possession, or circulation of counterfeit currency is classified under forgery and counterfeiting offences and carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
Authorities view the crime as a direct threat to economic stability, eroding trust in the financial system and distorting market transactions.
Mwakabalula urged citizens to examine notes carefully, particularly during fast-paced cash transactions in markets, transport hubs, and night-time business settings where counterfeit money tends to circulate more easily.
He also encouraged the public to report suspected fake notes to financial institutions or the police, stressing that “an informed citizen is the strongest safeguard.”
The BoT maintains that protecting the integrity of the country’s currency is a shared responsibility, one that depends on both robust security features and vigilant users
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