Terms of use

Mabuku is a marketplace where Zambian writers sell e-books and printed copies of their books. It is run by Mabuku Store Limited (registration number [PACRA registration number - In progress]), Gabon Area Along Katima Mulilo Road Plot 18/81, Lusaka, Zambia ("we", "us").

These terms apply when you use the Mabuku app or website. By creating an account you agree to them. If you sell books, the extra terms in Selling on Mabuku also apply.

• You sign in with your phone number and a one-time code, or with an email and password. Keep your codes and password to yourself.
• If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must agree to these terms for you.
• Give us true details. You're responsible for what happens on your account.
• Tell us straight away at samuelkapansa@gmail.com if you think someone else is using your account.

When you buy an e-book you get a personal licence to read it in the Mabuku app and on the Mabuku website. You don't buy the book's copyright, which stays with the author.

• You can read your e-books on up to two phones at a time, and online on the Mabuku website.
• Each copy carries your name and phone number inside it. This protects authors and lets us trace copies that are shared.
• You must not copy, print, screenshot, share, sell or upload e-books, or try to get round their protection.
• If we find a copy of your e-book shared outside Mabuku, we may suspend your account and remove your access to it.

• Prices are in Zambian Kwacha and include any taxes we must charge.
• You pay with Airtel Money or MTN MoMo through our payment provider, Lenco. You approve each payment with your own PIN on your phone. We never see or store your PIN.
• An e-book is yours as soon as the payment is confirmed.

Because e-books are delivered instantly, we don't normally refund them. We will refund you if you were charged twice, if you paid but didn't get the book, or if the book can't be opened and we can't fix it. Contact us within 7 days at samuelkapansa@gmail.com. Nothing in these terms takes away rights you have under Zambian consumer law.

• When you order a printed copy, you're buying it from the author, not from us. You pay the author directly when you get the book.
• The author accepts or declines your order. If they don't answer within 48 hours, the order closes and you haven't paid anything.
• Once the author accepts, you can see each other's phone numbers to arrange delivery or pickup. Delivery costs are agreed between you.
• Please only order books you mean to buy. If you repeatedly don't collect or pay for books, we may stop you ordering printed copies.
• If something goes wrong with an author, tell us. We can't refund money paid to an author, but we will look into it and may act against the author's account.

If you list books on Mabuku, you also agree to the following.

• Your rights. You only list books you wrote, or have the written right to sell. You're responsible if someone claims you didn't have that right.
• What you allow us to do. You let us store your book, make protected and watermarked copies for buyers, show its cover, description and price, and promote it, for as long as it's listed. You keep your copyright. You can remove a book at any time; readers who already bought it keep access.
• Commission. For each e-book sale we keep a commission (the current rate is shown in your dashboard) and add the rest to your balance. If we change the rate, it applies to new sales only.
• Payouts. We pay your balance to the Airtel Money or MTN MoMo number on your profile, automatically once it reaches the payout threshold, or on payout day. The mobile money transfer fee comes off the payout. Make sure the number is yours and correct.
• Printed copies. A listing fee applies for printed copies to be shown, for the number of days stated when you pay. It's not refundable once the listing has started. You keep the full price of printed copies you sell, and you're responsible for delivering them as described and keeping your stock accurate.
• Review. We check every book before it goes live. We may refuse or remove a book that breaks these terms, and we may hold payouts while we look into a complaint.
• Taxes. You're responsible for declaring your own income from Mabuku.

You must not list, upload or post anything that:

• copies someone else's work without permission;
• is against Zambian law, or encourages violence or hatred against any group;
• sexualises children in any way;
• contains other people's private information without their consent;
• is spam, a scam, or misleading about what the book is.

Only readers who bought a book can review it. Reviews must be honest and about the book. We may hide reviews that break these terms. Other readers see your first name next to your review.

Email samuelkapansa@gmail.com with the book's title and link, proof that you own the rights, and your contact details. We will take the book down while we look into it, and tell the person who listed it.

We may suspend or close an account that breaks these terms, puts other users at risk, or is used for fraud. Where we can, we'll tell you why. You can close your account at any time; see our privacy policy for how. Money already owed to an author is still paid out.

We work hard to keep Mabuku running and safe, but we can't promise it will always be available or free of errors. As far as the law allows, we're not responsible for indirect losses, and our total responsibility to you is limited to what you paid us in the 12 months before the problem. This doesn't limit any responsibility that can't be limited under Zambian law.

We may update these terms. If a change matters, we'll tell you in the app or by message before it applies. If you keep using Mabuku after that, the new terms apply.

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Zambia, and disputes go to the courts of Zambia.