Vuma Terms of Service

Last updated: 17 August 2026

These terms govern your use of Vuma. By creating an account, you agree to them. Vuma is operated by Pearson Marasha, trading as Vuma, of Harare, Zimbabwe. These terms are governed by the laws of Zimbabwe.

1. What Vuma is

Vuma is a technology platform that connects riders with independent drivers and lets them agree on a fare directly. Vuma is not a transportation company and does not employ drivers. Drivers are independent contractors responsible for their own vehicle, licensing, insurance, and compliance with local transport regulations.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Vuma. Drivers must hold a valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and any permits required by local law, and must pass Vuma's verification process before accepting rides. As part of verification, a driver must affirmatively declare that they are authorised by relevant legislation and authorities to operate a ride-hailing service, that their vehicle is appropriately insured and certified, and that they will remain in full compliance with local law at all times. Vuma is not accountable for a driver's actions or omissions, including where a driver's declaration proves inaccurate.

3. Fares and payment

Fares are agreed directly between rider and driver through the app's negotiation feature. Unless a ride is covered by a referral or wallet credit, payment is settled directly between rider and driver (e.g., in cash or via a method they agree on) — Vuma does not process rider fare payments. Driver subscription fees are paid to Vuma via the payment methods offered in the app.

Drivers who are not on an active subscription plan maintain a prepaid wallet balance with Vuma, from which Vuma's commission on each ride is deducted automatically at the start of that ride. A driver whose wallet balance is insufficient may be prevented from accepting new rides until the balance is topped up. Wallet top-ups are reviewed and confirmed by Vuma before the balance is credited, and each top-up requires the driver's explicit confirmation that the amount is non-refundable and will only be applied toward ride commission or subscription fees. A driver may also use their wallet balance to pay for a subscription plan directly. Where a rider pays part of a fare using their own Vuma Wallet (change) credit, the driver is credited the equivalent amount into their own prepaid wallet, since Vuma facilitated that credit on the driver's behalf.

3a. Taxes and levies

Where applicable, Vuma may collect taxes, levies, or similar regulatory charges on a ride, in amounts and at rates set by Vuma from time to time to reflect obligations imposed by law or by the relevant regulatory authority. These amounts are deducted from the driver's prepaid wallet balance at the same time as commission and are not part of Vuma's own revenue— they are collected and held on behalf of, and remitted to, the applicable regulator. This applies to a ride regardless of whether the driver is on a per-ride commission arrangement or an active subscription plan.

3b. Scheduled rides

Vuma allows a rider to book a ride for a specific future date and time ("scheduled ride") instead of immediately. Once a driver has accepted a scheduled ride, the following apply:

• Either party may cancel freely at any time up until one hour before the scheduled time, without consequence.
• A driver who cancels within one hour of the scheduled time, or who does not show up, and a rider who cancels within one hour of the scheduled time, will have their account flagged.
• A second such flag within a rolling 3-month period results in a 7-day suspension from the platform.
• A suspended user may submit an appeal explaining the circumstances. Vuma reviews each appeal and retains final discretion over whether a suspension is lifted early, reduced, or upheld.
• Either party may instead propose cancelling by mutual agreement (for example, due to illness or a flight delay), stating a reason. If the other party accepts, the ride is cancelled with no flag to either side. If the other party declines, the proposing party may either proceed with the trip as scheduled, or cancel anyway — cancelling anyway after an explicit rejection results in a flag regardless of how far in advance of the scheduled time this occurs, unlike an ordinary cancellation, which is only flagged within the one-hour window described above.
• Once the scheduled time is reached, either party may be asked to confirm that the other has arrived, or to report that they have not. A report made in good faith that turns out to be inaccurate does not, by itself, constitute a breach of these terms, but repeated or apparently bad-faith reports may be treated as a violation of Section 4 below.

[REPLACE: confirm the flag/suspension mechanism and appeal process described above meet applicable consumer-protection and due-process expectations in each jurisdiction Vuma operates in.]

4. Conduct

You agree not to:

• Provide false identity, vehicle, or verification information.
• Use the platform for any unlawful purpose.
• Harass, threaten, or endanger another user.
• Misuse the SOS or safety features (e.g., false alarms).
• Attempt to circumvent commission, verification, or safety systems.

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

5. Safety features

Vuma provides safety tools including SOS alerts, ride sharing, and driver verification. These tools are aids, not guarantees of safety. In a genuine emergency, always contact local emergency services directly in addition to using in-app features.

6. Ratings and account action

We may use ratings, reports, and verification status to restrict, suspend, or remove access to the platform for either riders or drivers, at our discretion, to protect the safety and integrity of the platform. Separately from any automatic flag- or rating-based suspension, Vuma may also place an account on temporary hold while investigating a specific concern, stating a reason for the hold; this is not itself a finding of wrongdoing, and access is restored once the investigation concludes unless a further suspension is warranted under this section.

7. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Vuma is not liable for the acts or omissions of riders or drivers using the platform, including during a trip arranged through the app. Vuma provides the platform "as is" without warranties of any kind.

8. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of Vuma after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

9. Contact us

Questions about these terms can be sent to pmarashazw@gmail.com.