Terms & Conditions

Last Updated: October 14, 2025

Welcome to Kuwiswe

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of kuwiswe.com (“Platform,” “Site,” or “Kuwiswe”), Africa’s first curated platform where quality meets ethics—a tech-enabled retail experience for all things African Owned, African Made.

By accessing or using Kuwiswe, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.

1. Definitions

“We,” “Us,” “Our” refers to Kuwiswe and its affiliates.

“You,” “Your,” “User” refers to any individual or entity using the Platform.

“Vendor” refers to African-owned businesses selling their African-made products on our Platform.

“Product” refers to goods listed and sold through the Platform.

“Content” refers to text, images, videos, reviews, and other materials on the Platform.

2. Eligibility

To use Kuwiswe, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
Provide accurate and complete registration information
Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3. Account Registration

Creating an Account

To make purchases and access certain features, you must create an account by providing:

A valid email address
A secure password
Accurate contact and shipping information

Account Security

You are responsible for:

Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
All activities that occur under your account
Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent activity.

Account Information

You agree to:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Update your information promptly when it changes
Not impersonate any person or entity
Not create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions

4. Platform Use

Permitted Use

You may use Kuwiswe to:

Browse and purchase African-owned, African-made products
Review and rate products and vendors
Communicate with vendors and customer support
Access content and features available on the Platform

Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

Violate any laws, regulations, or these Terms
Infringe on intellectual property rights
Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful software
Engage in fraudulent transactions or payment disputes
Harass, abuse, or harm other users or vendors
Scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Platform
Circumvent security features or access restrictions
Use the Platform for unauthorized commercial purposes
Post false, misleading, or defamatory content
Manipulate reviews, ratings, or rankings
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems

5. Products and Orders

Product Listings

Product information, descriptions, and images are provided by vendors
We curate vendors to ensure they are African-owned and products are African-made
We strive for accuracy but do not guarantee that all information is complete or error-free
Prices, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice

Ordering Process

When you place an order:

You make an offer to purchase the product(s) at the listed price
We send an order confirmation via email (this does not constitute acceptance)
The contract is formed when the vendor ships the product or we send a shipping confirmation
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel orders for any reason, including product availability, pricing errors, or suspected fraud

Pricing and Payment

All prices are displayed in the applicable local currency
Prices include applicable taxes unless otherwise stated
Payment is processed through secure third-party payment processors
You authorize us to charge your chosen payment method for all purchases
We are not responsible for bank fees, currency conversion fees, or payment processing charges

Shipping and Delivery

Shipping methods, costs, and estimated delivery times are displayed at checkout
Delivery times are estimates and not guaranteed
You are responsible for providing accurate shipping information
Risk of loss passes to you upon delivery to the shipping carrier
International shipping may be subject to customs duties and import taxes (your responsibility)

Order Cancellation

You may cancel an order before it ships by contacting customer support
We reserve the right to cancel orders due to product unavailability, pricing errors, or other legitimate reasons
If we cancel your order, we will refund the full amount paid

6. Returns and Refunds

Return Policy

Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery for most products
Products must be unused, in original condition, and in original packaging
Certain products (perishables, custom items, intimate goods) may not be eligible for return
Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer unless the product is defective or incorrect

Refund Process

To request a return or refund:

Contact customer support within the applicable return period
Provide your order number and reason for return
Follow our return authorization process
Ship the product back to the designated address
Refunds are processed within 7-14 business days after we receive and inspect the returned product

Damaged or Defective Products

If you receive a damaged or defective product:

Notify us within 48 hours of delivery
Provide photos of the damage or defect
We will arrange a replacement or full refund, including return shipping costs

7. Vendor Relationships

Marketplace Model

Kuwiswe operates as a curated marketplace platform connecting buyers with African-owned vendors. While we facilitate transactions:

Vendors are independent sellers responsible for their products
Each purchase creates a contract between you and the vendor
We curate vendors to ensure quality and authenticity but do not manufacture or directly sell products
Vendors are responsible for product quality, accuracy of listings, and fulfillment

Our Role

We provide:

Platform infrastructure and technology
Payment processing facilitation
Customer support coordination
Dispute resolution assistance
Quality and authenticity curation

8. Intellectual Property

Our Content

All content on Kuwiswe, including but not limited to:

Logo, branding, and design elements
Website layout and functionality
Original text, graphics, and videos
Software and code

…is owned by Kuwiswe or our licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Vendor Content

Vendors retain ownership of their product images, descriptions, and other content but grant us a license to display and promote their products on the Platform.

User Content

When you post reviews, comments, or other content:

You retain ownership but grant us a worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content
You represent that you have the right to post the content
You agree not to post content that violates intellectual property rights

Restrictions

You may not:

Copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission
Use our trademarks or branding without authorization
Reverse engineer or decompile our software
Remove copyright or proprietary notices

9. Reviews and User Content

Posting Reviews

You may post reviews and ratings if you:

Have actually purchased and used the product
Provide honest, accurate feedback
Do not include offensive, defamatory, or inappropriate content
Do not include personal information or contact details
Do not have a conflict of interest with the vendor

Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

Remove or edit reviews that violate these Terms
Suspend users who post inappropriate content
Verify purchase history before publishing reviews

No Compensation

We do not compensate users for reviews. Any incentivized reviews must be clearly disclosed.

10. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of Kuwiswe is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

Platform Availability

We strive to provide uninterrupted access to Kuwiswe but:

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”
We do not guarantee error-free or uninterrupted service
We may suspend or discontinue features without notice for maintenance or improvements

Product Warranties

To the extent permitted by law:

We make no warranties about product quality, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose
Vendors are responsible for product warranties
We disclaim all implied warranties

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
Our total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid for the relevant product or service
We are not liable for vendor actions, product defects, shipping delays, or third-party services

Exceptions

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

Death or personal injury caused by negligence
Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
Any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kuwiswe, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and vendors from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

Your use of the Platform
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
Content you post on the Platform

13. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict of law principles.

Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, please contact us at support@kuwiswe.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of [Arbitration Body], except where prohibited by law.

Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits, except where such waivers are prohibited by law.

Exceptions

Either party may seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property violations or unauthorized access to the Platform.

14. Communication and Notices

Electronic Communications

By using Kuwiswe, you consent to receive electronic communications from us, including:

Order confirmations and updates
Customer service messages
Marketing emails (you may opt out)
Legal notices and policy updates

These communications satisfy any legal requirement for written notice.

Notices to You

We may provide notices by:

Email to your registered address
Posting on the Platform
Push notifications through the mobile app

Notices to Us

Legal notices to Kuwiswe must be sent to: Email: legal@kuwiswe.com [Include physical mailing address]

15. General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced, constitute the entire agreement between you and Kuwiswe.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, strikes, internet outages, or government actions.

Modification of Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be effective when posted, with the “Last Updated” date revised. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance. For material changes, we will provide additional notice.

Survival

Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, disclaimers, indemnification, and dispute resolution) will remain in effect after these Terms end.

Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Kuwiswe
Email: legal@kuwiswe.com
Support: support@kuwiswe.com
Website: kuwiswe.com

Our Commitment to Africa

At Kuwiswe, we celebrate African entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and innovation. Our platform is built on principles of quality, ethics, and authenticity. We are committed to:

Supporting African-owned businesses
Promoting African-made products
Building a community of conscious consumers
Maintaining transparency and fairness in all transactions

This is Ours. Together, we’re building Africa’s premier ethical marketplace.

By using Kuwiswe, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.