Terms and Conditions of Use
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern access to and use of the Karia App mobile and web application ("Karia", "the App", "the Platform"), operated by IT Cabinet ("we", "us", "our"). Karia connects three categories of users — Customers, Shop Owners, and Machinga (mobile vendors) — within a single application for the purpose of product discovery, local commerce, and digital record-keeping.
By creating an account, browsing, or otherwise using Karia, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the App. If you are using Karia on behalf of a business (as a Shop Owner) or as an independent trader (as a Machinga), you confirm that you have the authority to accept these Terms on that basis.
• You must be at least 18 years old to register a Shop Owner or Machinga account on Karia.
• Customers under 18 may use the App only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• Shop Owners and Machinga must provide accurate identifying information as required by the registration process, including national identification (NIDA) and, where applicable, a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and business registration details.
• Karia reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate registration where submitted information cannot be verified or is found to be false.
3.1 Customers
Customers may browse products, view shop and Machinga profiles, and use the in-app QR scanning feature to leave verified ratings after a purchase. Customer accounts may be created using a phone number and password, or by signing in with a Google account where offered.
3.2 Shop Owners
Shop Owner accounts are intended for individuals or businesses operating from a permanent physical premises. Shop Owners are responsible for the accuracy of their shop profile, product listings, pricing, and stock information, and for the conduct of any staff who access their account.
3.3 Machinga (Mobile Vendors)
Machinga accounts are intended for individuals selling goods without a fixed premises. Machinga registration requires a valid national identification number (NIDA). Machinga control their own visibility to nearby Customers through the in-app "On-Duty / Off-Duty" toggle, described further in Section 8.
Shop Owners and Machinga may submit identifying documents (which may include NIDA, business licence, TIN certificate, and photographs of the shop or trading location) for review. A "Verified Merchant" badge may be granted at Karia’s discretion following review of submitted documents. Verification does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement by Karia of the quality, legality, or authenticity of any product or service offered by the verified user, and Customers are encouraged to exercise their own judgement.
• Shop Owners and Machinga are solely responsible for the accuracy of product names, descriptions, pricing, quality claims, and stock quantities they post.
• Karia does not itself sell, own, warehouse, or take title to any product listed on the Platform. Karia provides the technology through which independent sellers list and are discovered.
• Karia reserves the right to remove any listing that it reasonably believes to be fraudulent, misleading, counterfeit, or in violation of Tanzanian law.
Karia does not hold, pool, or take custody of Customer funds. Where in-app payment functionality is enabled, transactions are processed through a licensed, Bank of Tanzania-regulated Payment Service Provider ("PSP"), and funds are settled directly in accordance with that provider’s terms. Karia’s role is limited to facilitating discovery and record-keeping; it is not a party to the underlying sale of goods between Customer and seller, and does not guarantee delivery, quality, or refund of any transaction conducted off-platform or through direct arrangement between users.
• Sellers (Shop Owners and Machinga) may generate a digital receipt QR code after a sale, recording the product and amount sold. This reduces the seller's recorded stock and forms part of their sales history within the App.
• A separate QR code may be generated to allow a Customer who has completed a purchase to leave a star rating and review, linked to that verified transaction. Ratings obtained outside this verified process may be removed at Karia's discretion.
• Sellers must not generate receipt or rating codes for transactions that did not occur. Doing so is a violation of these Terms and may result in suspension.
Machinga location visibility is controlled entirely by the user through the "On-Duty / Off-Duty" toggle within the App. While set to On-Duty, an approximate live location is shared with the App for the purpose of proximity-based discovery by nearby Customers. While set to Off-Duty, precise location sharing stops immediately. Location data is used solely for the discovery feature described in this section and is not sold to third parties.
Karia's 'Documents' section provides sellers with a running ledger of their own recorded sales, and simplified estimates of applicable presumptive income tax, VAT set-aside amounts, and local council service levy, calculated from figures the seller has entered into the App. These figures are estimates for the seller's own planning purposes only. Karia is not a tax advisor, a licensed accounting service, or an Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD), and does not submit any information to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) on a seller's behalf. Final responsibility for accurate tax filing and compliance with TRA requirements rests entirely with the individual seller.
Users agree not to:
• Provide false identity, registration, or product information.
• List counterfeit, stolen, illegal, or prohibited goods.
• Generate fraudulent receipt or rating QR codes, or otherwise manipulate ratings, stock records, or sales figures.
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other users through in-app messaging or reviews.
• Attempt to interfere with, reverse-engineer, or gain unauthorized access to the App's systems or other users' accounts.
Where a dispute arises between users (for example, an allegation of non-delivery, defective goods, or misconduct), Karia acts as a neutral record-keeper and will request supporting evidence (such as chat logs or delivery confirmation) from the parties involved. Karia is not obligated to arbitrate, refund, or resolve disputes concerning the underlying transaction between a Customer and a seller, but may suspend an account where credible evidence of fraud or serious misconduct is presented.
• Karia may suspend or terminate any account that violates these Terms, provides false verification information, or is subject to credible, evidenced allegations of fraud.
• Where an account is suspended pending investigation, Karia will make reasonable efforts to review supporting evidence within a limited timeframe and restore access where allegations cannot be substantiated.
• Users may request deletion of their account and associated data at any time, subject to Karia's obligation to retain certain records where required by law.
The Karia name, logo, application design, and underlying software are the property of IT Cabinet. Users retain ownership of the content they upload (such as product photos and shop descriptions) but grant Karia a licence to display that content within the App for the purpose of operating the Platform.
Karia is provided on an "as available" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by Tanzanian law, IT Cabinet shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from use of the App, including but not limited to losses arising from transactions between users, inaccurate listings, or reliance on estimated figures provided by the record-keeping and tax estimation tools described in Section 9.
Karia may update these Terms from time to time as the App's features and business operations evolve. Material changes will be communicated to users within the App. Continued use of Karia after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Tanzania, without prejudice to any statutory alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that may apply.
Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to IT Cabinet through the contact channels published within the Karia App.