Privacy Policy
Last updated: 10 July 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how AgroConnect Zimbabwe (the "Platform"), operated by Elisha Never Makaza ("we", "us", "our") as the data controller, collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information. It is written to reflect Zimbabwe's Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 11:25] and applies to all users of the Platform.
1. Information we collect
Depending on how you use the Platform, we collect:
- Account information: name, phone number, email address, password (stored hashed), and role (farmer, buyer, supplier, advisor, logistics provider, village agent, or administrator).
- Profile information: role-specific details such as farm location, produce categories, business details, or agent verification details submitted by verified village agents.
- Listings and transaction information: produce listings, images, order requests, order status, reviews, and related messages between users.
- Advisory and health-log content: advisory posts, crop or livestock health-log entries, and any photos you choose to upload with them.
- Market-price subscription preferences: crops and location you choose for price digests and alerts.
- Communications metadata: records of SMS, WhatsApp, USSD, and email messages sent to or from you through the Platform (for example, OTPs, order notifications, price alerts, and activity reminders).
- Technical information: data cached by your browser or device to support offline access to recently viewed pages, such as market prices, through the Platform's installable app.
2. How we collect information
We collect information you provide directly during registration, profile setup, listing creation, ordering, messaging, and support requests; information a verified village agent submits when registering a farmer on their behalf; and information sent to us through USSD or WhatsApp gateway messages you initiate.
3. Why we use your information
We process personal information to:
- create and secure your account, including OTP-based password resets and login protections;
- operate core features such as listings, order requests, reviews, supplier directories, and logistics requests;
- send transactional and requested messages by SMS, WhatsApp, USSD, or email, including order updates, OTPs, price digests, and activity reminders;
- verify village agents and advisors before granting elevated Platform capabilities;
- maintain the security, integrity, and lawful operation of the Platform, including detecting abuse and enforcing our Terms and Conditions; and
- comply with applicable legal obligations.
Our legal bases for this processing are your consent (for example, when you opt into price alerts or reminders), the performance of the account relationship between you and the Platform, and our legitimate interest in operating a secure and functional service.
4. How we share information
We do not sell personal information. We share information only as needed to operate the Platform:
- with other users where the Platform's function requires it — for example, a buyer and farmer see relevant listing, contact, and order details to complete a coordinated transaction, and an advisor sees health-log details needed to respond;
- with logistics providers you or a counterpart engage through a delivery request;
- with service providers who help us deliver the Platform, such as SMS/WhatsApp gateway providers, email delivery providers, and hosting infrastructure, under obligations to protect your information; and
- where required by law, regulation, or a valid legal process.
5. Data retention
We retain personal information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Platform, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations. You may request deletion of your account and associated personal information as described in Section 8, subject to information we are required to retain by law.
6. Security
We apply technical and organisational measures appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we hold, including hashed and single-use OTPs, login throttling, role-based access control, and validation of uploaded images. No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to or stored by the Platform.
7. Cookies and offline storage
The Platform uses session cookies necessary for sign-in and a service worker that caches recently viewed pages, such as market prices, on your device so they remain readable without a connection. This local cache stays on your device and is used only to support offline access.
8. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, and may object to or withdraw consent for optional processing such as price digests or activity reminders, by contacting us at the address below or, where available, through your account settings. You may also lodge a complaint with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) as the relevant data protection authority.
9. Children's privacy
The Platform is not directed at children and is not intended for use by anyone under 18 years of age, other than farmers registered by a verified village agent as described in our Terms and Conditions, where the agent and, upon claiming the account, the farmer are responsible for confirming eligibility.
10. International data transfers
Where the Platform's hosting or service providers process data outside Zimbabwe, we take reasonable steps to ensure that information continues to receive an appropriate level of protection consistent with this Policy.
11. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last updated" date on this page. Continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
12. Contact
For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, contact elishanmakaza@outlook.com or via LinkedIn.