Privacy Policy - Zambia.net Marketplace

At Zambia.net Marketplace, we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

Account information: Name, phone number, email address, password, and location.
Profile information: Avatar photo, bio, and business details.
Listing information: Item descriptions, photos, prices, and categories.
Communication data: Messages sent through our contact form or support channels.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Usage data: Pages visited, search queries, listings viewed, and interaction patterns.
Device information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and device identifiers.
Location data: Approximate location derived from your IP address or device settings.
Log data: IP addresses, access times, and referring URLs.

2. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account.
To enable you to create, manage, and search listings.
To facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.
To process payments for premium services.
To send important notifications about your account, listings, or transactions.
To improve the Platform through analytics and usage insights.
To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats.
To comply with legal obligations under Zambian law.

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:

Payment providers: To process transactions for premium services (e.g., Paystack).
Analytics services: To help us understand usage patterns and improve the Platform.
Law enforcement: When required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of our users.
Service providers: Trusted third parties who assist in operating the Platform (hosting, email delivery), bound by confidentiality agreements.

4. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and analyse usage. Essential cookies are required for the Platform to function. Analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with the Platform. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling essential cookies may affect Platform functionality.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as fraud prevention. Listing data and transaction records may be retained in anonymised form for analytical purposes.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Correction: Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
Data portability: Request your data in a structured, commonly used format.
Withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
Object: Object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@zambia.net.

7. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.

8. Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure password hashing, regular security assessments, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a prominent notice on the Platform or sending you a notification. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@zambia.net
Phone: +260 97 0000000
Visit our Contact Page