Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has assured Tanzanians that though there is resemblance between genuine and counterfeit bank notes, the genuine notes remain safe and difficult to forge.
“I can assure the public that those who always forge banknotes will never manage to include all features because the genuine banknote is unique and difficult to forge,” said Mr Hassan Jarufu, the advisor to BoT’s Director of Banking Services. He added that the genuine banknotes’ have state-of-the-art security features are difficult to forge, saying the public should not worry of criminals’ technology.
“We always take serious measures and conduct deep investigations whenever we get link of the manufacturing of fake banknotes, we do not give chance to criminals to share experience or coin innocent Tanzanians,” he said.
Reacting on rumours that the 500/- coin is highly needed for manufacturing of necklaces and earrings, Mr Jarufu said: “Those were mere lies, it is a completely false story.” He said the coin is manufactured from iron and nickel and not silver or any other mineral as it has been stated before by some people on streets.
He said the coin contains 94 per cent of iron and six per cent of nickel. He added that BoT continues phasing out all 500/- notes and that those taken to BoT are not reintroduced back into circulation.
