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Articles and analysis by zambianeconomist.

Chart showing the kwacha strengthening from about 29 to the dollar in March 2025 to 18.70 in July 2026, with a summary of which parts of the Zambian economy gain and which pay

Why a Strong Kwacha Is Not Always Good News for Zambia

The kwacha is up 20% this year. It cuts import costs and inflation - but squeezes exporters, tourism and the government revenue base. Who wins, who pays, and…

Zzambianeconomist · 28 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Line chart showing Zambia annual inflation falling from 12.3 percent in September 2025 to 6.5 percent in June 2026, back inside the Bank of Zambia 6 to 8 percent target band

Banking & Finance

Zambia Inflation Rate 2026: What the Numbers Actually Show

Zambia's inflation fell to 6.5% in June 2026, back inside the Bank of Zambia target band. What drove it, which parts are temporary, and what it means for…

Zzambianeconomist · 28 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Diagram showing the five step chain from the copper price through the kwacha, import costs and inflation to Zambian bank lending rates

Agriculture & Mining

Copper and the Kwacha: How the Link Actually Works

Copper sets the kwacha, and the kwacha sets almost everything else in Zambia. The full chain explained - production, price, currency, inflation and your borrowing costs.

Zzambianeconomist · 28 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

Dashboard of Zambia key economic indicators for 2026 including inflation of 6.5 percent, a policy rate of 13.25 percent, average lending rates near 28 percent, a kwacha around 18.70 to the dollar and a 253.1 billion kwacha national budget

Business & Economy

Zambia’s Economy in 2026: A Business Guide to the Numbers That Matter

Inflation, the kwacha, copper, interest rates, power and public debt - a plain-English guide to the numbers shaping Zambia in 2026 and what each one means for business.

Zzambianeconomist · 28 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Stacks of copper cathodes bundled on pallets awaiting export, under a partly clouded sky.

Business & Economy

What the Next Government Inherits: Zambia’s Economic Position on 14 August 2026

Debt restructured to 94 per cent of perimeter, inflation at an eight-year low, and record harvests - set against a primary surplus falling by two-thirds and no successor…

Zzambianeconomist · 27 Jul 2026 · 12 min read

Bar chart showing the composition of Zambia non-traditional exports in January 2026, with agricultural products at 23.1 percent and unprocessed minerals including nickel ores at 17.8 percent, zinc concentrates at 10.2 percent and sulphur at 7.4 percent.

Business & Economy

Beyond Copper: How Economic Diplomacy Can Drive Zambia Economic Diversification and Sustainable Development

Much of what Zambia counts as diversification is unprocessed minerals under another name. What the numbers actually show, and where diplomacy converts into diversified exports.

Zzambianeconomist · 27 Jul 2026 · 13 min read

Bar chart showing Zambia export value by transport mode between January and May 2026, with road at 96.4 percent, air at 2.0 percent and rail at just 0.4 percent.

Business & Economy

Repositioning Zambia in the Global Economy: The Strategic Role of Economic Diplomacy in Trade, Investment and Growth

Rail carries 0.4 percent of Zambia export value. That single number frames the country strategic position better than any foreign policy statement.

Zzambianeconomist · 27 Jul 2026 · 13 min read

Bar chart showing Zambia export destination concentration in January 2026, with Canada at 33 percent, China 15.1 percent, Switzerland 12.6 percent, Singapore 11.3 percent and the Democratic Republic of Congo 10.7 percent, together accounting for 82.7 percent of export earnings.

Business & Economy

Economic Diplomacy as a Catalyst for Zambia Economic Transformation: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward

Zambia does not have an access problem. It has a conversion problem. What economic diplomacy is, what machinery Zambia has, and the five reforms that would make it…

Zzambianeconomist · 27 Jul 2026 · 13 min read