In a stunning reversal of fortune, Zambia's kwacha has staged the most dramatic comeback in global forex markets, leaping from 2024's economic casualty to 2025's champion performer. While economists once wrote its obituary, this resource-backed currency is now outpacing every African rival and humbling major world currencies.
Remember when everyone was writing off the Zambian kwacha? Well, plot twist – it's now on an upward trajectory and taking names across Africa. We're talking about a 3.36% surge in June alone, making it the world's top performer that month. Not bad for a currency that was hammered just 12 months ago.
The Dark Days of the Kwacha
Let's rewind to 2023 and 2024. The kwacha was having what you'd politely call a "challenging time." More honestly? It was experiencing severe depreciation. We're talking about a 28% nosedive that had economists shaking their heads and ordinary Zambians watching their savings evaporate.
By March 2025, things hit rock bottom. The kwacha hit rock bottom at K29.10 to the dollar – a number that still makes people wince. What caused this mess? Pick your poison: empty foreign currency reserves, a government stretched thin, and a drought that severely impacted national productivity, leading to an energy crisis.
Oh, and let's not forget that Zambia was still sorting out its debt problems after defaulting. Fun times all around.
There was a particularly volatile day in late June 2024 when the IMF extended a lifeline to Zambia, and according to market analysts, the kwacha surged 7% in a single day. For a hot minute, it was the world's best-performing currency. But that party didn't last long – by year's end, the kwacha was still in the dumps.
Copper's Golden Moment
Here's where 2025 gets interesting. Copper prices saw exponential increases, and since copper is basically Zambia's primary economic driver, this changed everything. Copper prices surged nearly 20% in early 2025 as green energy demand exploded, which might not sound like much until you realise it's a massive jump from where things were at $3.91/pound at the beginning of 2024.
The numbers are pretty wild – copper prices surged almost 20% in the first half of 2025. Why? Electric cars and green energy projects are depending on copper like there's no tomorrow. For Zambia, this translates to one simple thing: more dollars flowing in.
Get this – Zambian copper exports jumped 12% in Q1 2025 alone. The country is even planning to pump out 1 million tons this year, up from 820,000 tons in 2024. When you're the world's second-biggest copper producer and prices are flying high, life gets a lot easier.
Trump's Dollar Dilemma
Analysts suggest Trump policies contributed to dollar weakness, and here's where it gets really interesting. Nobody saw this coming, but Donald Trump's presidency has been an unexpected tailwind for the kwacha. How? By absolutely wrecking the US dollar.
Trump's been playing trade war roulette with tariffs, spooking investors left and right. The dollar index dropped 10.8% in the first half of 2025 – its worst performance in over 50 years. Things got so bad that Moody's stripped America of its top credit rating in May. Think about that for a second.
But wait, there's more. Trump's been breathing down the Federal Reserve's neck, demanding rate cuts. This whole "Trump vs. the Fed" drama has investors questioning whether the Fed can even do its job properly anymore. Market folks are now betting the Fed will cave and cut rates 2-3 times before the year's out.
For countries like Zambia, a weak dollar is like finding money in your old jacket pocket. Suddenly, paying off dollar debts doesn't hurt as much, and imports get cheaper. The kwacha's big June rally happened right when the dollar was hitting multi-year lows. Coincidence? I think not.
Tax Season Boost
Here's something you probably didn't know: Zambia's tax calendar is secretly helping the kwacha. Bear with me – this is pretty clever.
Every mid-year, mining companies have to pay their taxes. But here's the kicker – they earn in dollars but pay taxes in kwacha. So what do they do? They convert significant dollar reserves to get kwacha for their tax bills.
One local economist put it perfectly: "When the financial year comes to an end, mining firms have to offload dollars on the market to get kwacha for paying taxes." It's like a mini stimulus package that happens every year.
The strategy is pretty smart. It ensures that these big mining houses have to pay certain taxes through the central bank in dollars. This rule from 2021 ensures that all export cash enters the official market instead of disappearing into some offshore account.
So What Happens Now?
The kwacha's comeback is already paying off. Inflation dropped to 14.1% by June – the lowest it's been in over a year. That's real money back in people's pockets. The Bank of Zambia might even cut interest rates soon, which would be huge for getting the economy moving again.
But let's be real – this isn't a fairy tale. Some of what's driving the kwacha's strength won't last forever. Tax season ends, and then companies go back to importing stuff for the next planting season. One economist warned that the gains might "reverse by September" when fertiliser imports ramp up.
The kwacha's future depends on two things: copper prices staying high and the dollar staying weak. If either of those flips, we could be back to square one pretty quickly.
That said, right now, Zambians have every reason to crack a smile. The kwacha went from a remarkable recovery in record time, becoming Africa's best-performing currency in June. It's proof that sometimes, when the stars align just right, even the most beaten-down currency can stage an epic comeback.
The real test? Making this stick. But after the nightmare of 2023-2024, let’s say Zambians have earned this moment of victory.
