# Malawian kwacha

The kwacha (/ˈkwætʃə/; ISO 4217: MWK, official name Malawi Kwacha) is the currency of Malawi as of 1971, replacing the Malawian pound. It is divided into 100 tambala. The kwacha replaced other types of currency, namely the British pound sterling, the South African rand, and the Rhodesian dollar, that had previously circulated through the Malawian economy. The exchange rate of the kwacha undergoes fixed periodical adjustments, but since 1994 the exchange rate has floated. In 2005, administrative measures were put in place by Bingu wa Mutharika to peg the exchange rate with other currencies. Banknotes are issued by the Reserve Bank of Malawi. In May 2012, the Reserve Bank of Malawi devalued the kwacha by 34% and unpegged it from the United States dollar. The currency was further devalued by 25% by the central bank in May 2022 followed by another 44% devaluation in November 2023 raising inflation rate in Malawi.

## Etymology

The name kwacha was first used in Zambia, where the Zambian kwacha was introduced in 1968. It derives from the Chinyanja or Chichewa word meaning "it has dawned", while tambala translates as "rooster" in Chichewa. The tambala was so named because a hundred roosters announce the dawn.

## History

The kwacha replaced the Malawian pound in 1971 at a rate of two kwacha to one pound.
As of 30 August 2019, one British pound sterling was equal to approximately 883.43 kwachas, one US dollar was equal to 725.16 kwachas and one South African rand was equal to 47.69 kwachas. As of 30 August 2019 one Euro is equivalent to 797.42 Kwachas.

## Coins

The first coins introduced in 1971 were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 tambala. In 1986, 50 tambala and 1 kwacha coins were also introduced. In January 2007, 5 and 10 kwacha coins, which actually bear a mint date of 2006, were also released into circulation. On 23 May 2012 new 1, 5 and 10 kwacha coins were released into circulation
The 1 and 2 tambala coins are composed of copper-plated steel. The 5 tambala coin is of nickel-plated steel. The 50 tambala and 1 kwacha coin are composed of brass-plated steel.

## Banknotes

In 1971, banknotes dated 1964 were introduced in denominations of 50 tambala, 1, 2 and 10 kwacha. 5 kwacha notes were introduced in 1973 when the 2 kwacha note was discontinued. 20 kwacha notes were introduced in 1983. 50 tambala notes were last issued in 1986, with the last 1 kwacha notes printed in 1992. In 1993, 50 kwacha notes were introduced, followed by 100 kwacha in 1993, 200 kwacha in 1995, 500 kwacha in 2001 and 2000 kwacha in November 2016 to ease desperate cash shortages.
As of 2008, the following banknote denominations are in circulation:
1997 Series :
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description | Description | Date of first printing |
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of first printing |
| | K5 | 126 × 63 mm | Green | John Chilembwe | Villagers mashing grain | 1 July 1997 |
| | K10 | 132 × 66 mm | Brown | John Chilembwe | Children in "bush" school | 1 July 1997 |
| | K20 | 138 × 69 mm | Purple | John Chilembwe | Workers harvesting tea leaves | 1 July 1997 |
| | K50 | 144 × 72 mm | Blue | John Chilembwe | Independence Arch in Blantyre | 1 July 1997 |
| | K100 | 150 × 75 mm | Red | John Chilembwe | Capital Hill in Lilongwe | 1 July 1997 |
| | K200 | 156 × 78 mm | Blue | John Chilembwe | Reserve Bank building in Lilongwe | 1 July 1997 |
| | K500 | 162 × 81 mm | Multi-colour | John Chilembwe | Reserve Bank building in Blantyre | 1 December 2001 |
According to an article in the Nyasa Times dated 9 March 2012, within the next six months the Reserve Bank of Malawi would introduce a whole new series of notes, including a 1,000-kwacha note, twice the largest denomination currently in circulation. The notes were announced in Biantyre on 8 March by Governor Dr. Perks Ligoya. The new notes would be much smaller in size than the current notes, which served as a cost-cutting measure. The new 1,000-kwacha note was going to be printed by De La Rue.
On 23 May 2012, the Nyasa Times reported that the Reserve Bank of Malawi introduced the new 1,000 kwacha note into circulation along with the proposed new notes. The new 1,000 kwacha note was valued at around US$4. The new kwacha had the face of the first president Kamuzu Banda on the front and the back carries a depiction of Mzuzu maize silos.
The new 20 kwacha note was found to contain an error. On the back of the note is a building identified as the Domasi Teacher's Training College (now known as the Domasi College of Education). However, it is reported that the building is, in fact, the Machinga Teacher's Training College.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi is going to revise its new family of notes so that they are more "blind friendly". According to the Malawi Union of the Blind, the current notes have raised dots to aid in recognition of the denominations, but the dots are too small to be useful.
2012 Series :
| Image | Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description | Description | Date of first printing |
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of first printing |
| | | K20 | 128 × 64 mm | Purple | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters in Lilongwe; Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere) | Domasi Teachers Training College building and tree; stack of books and mortarboard | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K50 | 128 × 64 mm | Light blue and green | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseko) | Elephants, tree, and safari vehicle in Kasungu National Park | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K100 | 128 × 64 mm | Red | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; James Frederick Sangala | College of Medicine in Blantyre; stethoscope | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K200 | 132 × 66 mm | Blue and violet | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Rose Lomathinda Chibambo | New Parliament building in Lilongwe | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K500 | 132 × 66 mm | Brown and orange | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Reverend John Chilembwe | Mulunguzi dam in Zomba; water spigot; silhouette of woman carrying container on head and man carrying hoe over shoulder | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K1000 | 132 × 66 mm | Green | Reserve Bank of Malawi headquarters building in Lilongwe; Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda | Mzuzu maize silos; stalk of maize (corn); silhouette of two people mashing maize | 23 May 2012 |
| | | K2000 | | Yellow | Reverend John Chilembwe; outline of Malawi | Malawi University of Science and Technology, Thyolo District | 1 June 2016 |
2022 Series :
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description | Description | Date of first issue |
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of first issue |
| | K2000 | 135 × 66 mm | Orange | Reverend John Chilembwe; outline of Malawi | Blantyre Magistrate Court | 24 February 2022 |
| | K5000 | | Purple | Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda; outline of Malawi | Reserve Bank of Malawi central office, Blantyre | 24 February 2022 |