Frequently Asked Questions
General
Section titled “General”What is Pamusika?
Section titled “What is Pamusika?”Pamusika is a mobile marketplace built for Zimbabwe’s agricultural community. It connects farmers, buyers, and traders so they can buy and sell produce, livestock, and equipment directly. The name means “at the market” in Shona.
Is Pamusika free to use?
Section titled “Is Pamusika free to use?”Yes. Creating an account, browsing listings, messaging sellers, and posting listings are all free. Pamusika may offer optional premium features in the future through the rewards and points system.
What platforms does Pamusika support?
Section titled “What platforms does Pamusika support?”Pamusika is available as a mobile app for Android and iOS. You can also browse the marketplace as a guest on Android or iOS without creating an account.
What languages are available?
Section titled “What languages are available?”The app is available in English, Shona (chiShona), and Ndebele (isiNdebele). You can change your language at any time in Settings > Language. The app reloads automatically when you switch.
Do I need internet to use Pamusika?
Section titled “Do I need internet to use Pamusika?”Not always. Pamusika has an offline mode that lets you browse previously viewed listings, create new listings, and edit existing ones without internet. Changes are saved and automatically synced when you reconnect. However, you do need internet for messaging, uploading photos, and viewing new listings.
Account
Section titled “Account”How do I create an account?
Section titled “How do I create an account?”Download the app, enter your phone number, and verify it with an OTP (one-time password) sent via SMS or WhatsApp. That is all you need to get started. You can optionally set a permanent password for faster login.
How do I reset my password?
Section titled “How do I reset my password?”If you have forgotten your password:
- On the login screen, tap “Can’t access your account? Recover it”.
- Choose to recover via phone or email.
- Follow the prompts to verify your identity and set a new password.
See the Account Recovery guide for detailed steps.
How do I get verified?
Section titled “How do I get verified?”Pamusika has a two-tier verification system:
- Photo Verification (Tier 1) — Take a timestamped selfie to prove you are a real person.
- ID Verification (Tier 2) — Upload a government-issued ID (national ID, passport, or driver’s licence).
You must complete Tier 1 before Tier 2. Visit the Identity Verification guide for the full process.
What does the green checkmark badge mean?
Section titled “What does the green checkmark badge mean?”The green checkmark means the user has completed ID Verification (Tier 2). This is the highest trust level on Pamusika. A camera icon means the user has completed Photo Verification (Tier 1) only.
Can I change my phone number?
Section titled “Can I change my phone number?”Yes. Go to Settings > Change Phone Number. You will need to verify your new number before the change takes effect.
How do I delete my account?
Section titled “How do I delete my account?”Go to Settings > Delete Account. You will be asked to select a reason and confirm the deletion. This action is permanent — all your listings, favourites, ratings, and data will be removed and cannot be recovered.
Marketplace
Section titled “Marketplace”How do I list a product for sale?
Section titled “How do I list a product for sale?”- Tap the ”+” or List button from the marketplace screen.
- Choose a product template or start from scratch.
- Add a title, description, photos, price, and location.
- Publish your listing or save it as a draft.
See the Creating Listings guide for detailed instructions.
How does pricing work?
Section titled “How does pricing work?”You set your own prices when creating a listing. Prices can be entered as a fixed amount or a custom representation (e.g. “USD 5 per bucket”, “$3/kg”). You can also mark listings as negotiable so buyers know they can make offers.
Pamusika supports multiple currencies including USD and ZiG.
How do I find products near me?
Section titled “How do I find products near me?”Use the location filter on the marketplace screen to find listings in your province or area. You can also sort results by distance if location data is available.
What are Circles?
Section titled “What are Circles?”Circles are private buyer groups created by sellers. When you join a seller’s Circle, you may get early access to their new listings, special pricing, or other benefits. Browse available Circles from the Community section.
See the Circles guide for more information.
Can I save listings to view later?
Section titled “Can I save listings to view later?”Yes. Tap the heart icon on any listing to save it to your favourites. You can view all saved items from the Saved Items screen. Saved listings are also cached for offline viewing.
Safety
Section titled “Safety”How do I report a scam or suspicious listing?
Section titled “How do I report a scam or suspicious listing?”You can report any listing, user, or message directly from the app:
- On a listing, tap the menu and select Report.
- On a user profile, tap the menu and select Report.
- In a conversation, use the report option in the message menu.
All reports are confidential and reviewed by the Pamusika team.
How do I block someone?
Section titled “How do I block someone?”You can block a user from their profile or from a message conversation. Blocked users cannot message you or see your listings. Manage your blocked list from Settings > Blocked Users.
Is my personal data safe?
Section titled “Is my personal data safe?”Yes. Pamusika takes your privacy seriously:
- Your phone number and email are never shown publicly.
- Verification documents are securely uploaded and automatically deleted after review.
- All communication is encrypted.
- You can export your data at any time from Settings > Privacy & Data > Export My Data.
- You can delete your account and all associated data permanently.
What are the safety tips for meeting buyers and sellers?
Section titled “What are the safety tips for meeting buyers and sellers?”Technical
Section titled “Technical”What is offline mode?
Section titled “What is offline mode?”Offline mode lets you continue using Pamusika when you do not have an internet connection. You can browse cached listings, create new listings, and edit existing ones. Changes are stored in a sync queue and automatically uploaded when you reconnect.
How do I clear the app cache?
Section titled “How do I clear the app cache?”Go to Settings > Privacy & Data > Clear Cached Data. This removes temporary files, cached images, and saved listings data. Your account and login are not affected.
The app is slow or not loading. What should I do?
Section titled “The app is slow or not loading. What should I do?”Try these steps:
- Check your internet connection — Many features require an active connection.
- Clear the cache — Go to Settings > Privacy & Data > Clear Cached Data.
- Restart the app — Close the app completely and reopen it.
- Update the app — Make sure you have the latest version from the app store.
- Clear all data — As a last resort, go to Settings > Privacy & Data > Clear All Data & Logout (you will need to log in again).
Can I use biometric login?
Section titled “Can I use biometric login?”Yes, if your device supports fingerprint or face recognition. Enable it from Settings > Security. Once on, the app will use your biometric to authenticate when you open it.
How do I change the app theme?
Section titled “How do I change the app theme?”Go to Settings > Appearance and choose Light, Dark, or System (which follows your device’s setting).
What is the Mupfuyi AI Assistant?
Section titled “What is the Mupfuyi AI Assistant?”Mupfuyi is Pamusika’s built-in AI assistant. You can ask it for farming advice, help creating listings, pricing guidance, or general agricultural tips. It is available in English and Shona. Access it from Settings > AI Assistant or the messaging section of the app.