Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

By accessing or using Tambala Market ("we," "our," or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our platform.

Tambala Market operates under the laws of the Republic of Malawi and is committed to providing a safe, secure, and reliable marketplace for all users.

2. Definitions

3. User Accounts and Registration

Account Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• You must have a valid Malawi phone number for verification
• One person may not maintain more than one account

Seller Verification

Sellers must complete our verification process, which may include:

• National ID, Passport or Driver Licence verification
• Business registration documents (for business sellers)
• Bank account or mobile money account verification
• Physical address verification

4. Marketplace Rules and Conduct

Prohibited Items

User Conduct

All users must:

• Treat other users with respect and professionalism
• Provide accurate product descriptions and images
• Honor all transactions and agreements
• Respond to communications in a timely manner
• Comply with all applicable Malawi laws and regulations

5. Payment Terms and Processing

Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods through our secure payment gateway:

Payment Processing

All payments are processed through our secure payment partner, a licensed payment service provider regulated by the Reserve Bank of Malawi. By using our payment services, you agree to comply with applicable payment processing terms and conditions.

Fees and Commissions

Tambala Market is free to join.

• We only charge a 5% commission after you make a sale — this covers keeping the platform running, platform security, customer support, and the marketing that brings shoppers to your store.

6. Pickup and Delivery

Delivery Options

Sellers may offer the following delivery methods:

• Pickup: Buyers collect items from seller's location
• Delivery: Items delivered to buyer's specified address
• Courier Service: Professional courier delivery

Delivery Responsibilities

• Sellers are responsible for packaging items securely
• Delivery timeframes are estimates, not guarantees
• Buyers must provide accurate delivery information
• Risk of loss transfers upon delivery or pickup

7. Returns, Refunds, and Disputes

Our detailed returns and refunds policy is available on ourReturns Policy page. Key points include:

• 2-day return window after delivery confirmation (report issues within 2 days)
• Items must be in original condition
• Seller approval required for returns
• Dispute resolution through our support team

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review ourPrivacy Policyto understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

We comply with Malawi's Data Protection Act and international privacy standards.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Tambala Market shall not be liable for:

• Product defects or quality issues
• Seller misconduct or failure to deliver
• Buyer payment disputes or fraud
• Technical issues or platform downtime
• Loss of data or business interruption

10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Malawi. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Malawi.

We encourage users to resolve disputes amicably through our customer support team before pursuing legal action.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify users via email or platform notifications
• Provide 30 days notice for material changes
• Allow users to review changes before they take effect

Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

12. Contact Information