Version 1.0 | January 2026
Tambala Market is Malawi's online marketplace that allows people to buy and sell products safely and conveniently. The platform brings together buyers and verified sellers in one trusted place where customers can browse products, read reviews, pay using Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba, or bank transfer, and receive their items through delivery or pickup.
For sellers, Tambala Market makes it possible to reach customers across Malawi without renting a physical shop or managing complex systems.
💰 Tambala Market applies a 3% commission per successful sale.
Tambala Market is built to help sellers grow with low risk and high reach. You only pay 3% after you make a sale. No listing fees, no monthly fees, and no hidden charges.
Categories
Over 15 categories designed for Malawi, including Electronics, Fashion, Household Goods, and Agricultural Inputs.
Payment Methods
Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba, and Bank Transfer.
Delivery Options
Customer Pickup, Seller Delivery, or Courier Services.
Product Approval
Usually completed within 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Individuals above the age of 18 years, small businesses, registered companies, home-based sellers, mobile vendors, farmers, and artisans.
Note: If you're eligible, go ahead and register! Just make sure you have the items in stock before listing—they must be ready for your customers, as Tambala Market is not a "taking orders platform".
To register as a seller:
After registration, you will be directed to your Seller Dashboard with an onboarding checklist.
The onboarding checklist helps you complete important steps in the correct order. It is recommended to complete Identity Verification and Delivery Settings first.
Identity verification is required before listing products. It helps build buyer trust and meets regulatory requirements.
To verify:
Approval usually takes less than one hour.
Tambala Market lets you decide how customers receive your products. You can use one option or combine several.
Customer Pickup
Customers collect from you at set times and locations. Example: Pickup from 1:00–2:00 PM and 5:00–5:30 PM.
Seller Delivery
You deliver within areas you choose. Set your delivery zones, fees, and delivery times. Example: Lilongwe City Centre covering Area 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 43, and 44.
Courier Delivery
For customers outside your area, use courier services you trust. When customers choose courier delivery at checkout, their address and contact details are sent to you together with order confirmation.
💡 Why this matters: More delivery options make it easier for customers to buy from you—and easier buying means more sales.
Go to Dashboard → Settings → Business Information. Write a short, clear description explaining what you sell, what makes your business unique, and why customers should trust you.
Upload a square logo (recommended size: 400 × 400 px). Your logo appears when your store or products are shared on social media.
Add a mobile money wallet or bank account. This is required before you can withdraw earnings.
Go to Dashboard → Products → Add New Product or simply click Add Product in the dashboard.
You will add:
Submit the product for review. Approval usually takes 30–60 minutes.
If there are issues—such as poor-quality images or restricted items—the product may be rejected or returned for resubmission. Please review the list of prohibited items in our Terms of Service before listing.
You can update your products anytime. How changes are handled depends on what you're editing:
✅ Changes that apply immediately
⏳ Changes that need admin approval
This system lets you run your store efficiently while keeping the platform safe and reliable for buyers.
Sellers can:
Customers are notified whenever an order status changes.
Use built-in share buttons to promote your products and store on WhatsApp, Facebook, and other platforms.
You can also:
Monitor your performance in real time.
95%+
Order Fulfillment
<5 hrs
Response Time
<5%
Return Rate
4+ ⭐
Average Rating
Tambala Market believes in being clear and transparent about how sellers get paid.
Customer payments are held securely until:
Note: Orders with statuses other than Delivered, Picked Up, or Completed do not qualify for payout.
There are two types of fees when you receive your earnings:
Tambala Market Commission: 3%
This is our platform fee, deducted from each sale.
Transaction Processing Fees (varies)
These are standard transaction processing fees charged by payment processors when we send your payout. They are not Tambala Market fees.
Step 1: Tambala Market Commission
Step 2: Withdrawal (Choose One)
📱 Mobile Money Withdrawal
*Transaction fee charged by provider, not Tambala
🏦 Bank Account Withdrawal
*Transaction fee charged by proviser, not Tambala
✓ You keep approximately 94-95% of your total sales!
💡 Helpful Pricing Tip: Many sellers add around 5-6% to their product prices to cover all fees. For example, a product worth MWK 10,000 may be listed at MWK 10,600. This is optional—you control your pricing.
Use clear, well-lit product photos
Show your products from multiple angles
Write detailed and honest descriptions
Include all relevant product information
Respond to customers within 5 hours
Quick responses build trust and loyalty
Keep stock information accurate
Avoid disappointing customers with out-of-stock items
Use the Help Center, submit support tickets, or contact the support team directly.
Most issues are resolved within 5–8 hours.
We are committed to supporting your success. Together, we are building Malawi's online marketplace.
