Quick summary: We collect as little as we can. If you subscribe, we keep your email address to send you new stories. Google may use cookies to show ads on this site. We never sell your information, and you can unsubscribe or ask us to delete your data at any time.
Effective date: 10 October 2026
Zaku Malawi (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates https://www.zakumalawi.com (the “Site”). This page explains what personal information we collect from visitors, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in line with this policy.
Information you give us
- Email newsletter. If you subscribe, we collect your email address so we can send you new posts.
- Comments. If you leave a comment, we collect the name, email address and comment you enter, plus your IP address and browser details to help catch spam.
- Messages and story tips. If you email us or send a tip through Submit News, we keep what you send so we can reply and follow up.
- Polls. When you vote in a poll, we record your vote along with your IP address and a cookie, so each person votes only once.
Log data
Like most websites, our server records information your browser sends when you visit (“Log Data”). This can include your IP address, browser type and version, the pages you visit, the time and date of your visit and the time spent on those pages. We use it to keep the Site running, secure and fast.
We also show a live “people online” count. It uses your IP address for a few minutes only, to count active visitors, and does not identify you.
Cookies
Cookies are small files with a little data, sometimes including an anonymous unique identifier. They are sent to your browser by a website and stored on your device.
We use cookies to remember settings (such as your language choice and poll votes) and to support advertising. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or to tell you when a cookie is being sent. If you refuse cookies, some parts of the Site may not work properly.
Advertising and Google AdSense
We may show ads served by Google AdSense and other advertising partners. These partners may use cookies to serve ads based on your previous visits to this Site and other websites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this Site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalised advertising at aboutads.info.
- To learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services, read How Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps.
If you opt out, you will still see ads, but they will be less relevant to you.
Email newsletter
Our email list is run with Jetpack Newsletter, a service of Automattic Inc. (the company behind WordPress.com). Your email address is stored, and emails are sent, through Automattic’s servers. After you sign up, you will get an email asking you to confirm. Every email has an unsubscribe link, and you can also choose how often you hear from us. We do not sell, rent or share our email list. Read Automattic’s privacy policy.
Service providers
We use a small number of trusted services to run the Site:
- Automattic (Jetpack): sends our newsletter and protects our login page from attacks. Login protection checks the IP addresses of people trying to sign in to the site’s dashboard.
- Automattic (Akismet): checks comments for spam. Comment data, including your IP address, is sent to Akismet for this check.
- Google: advertising, as described above.
These providers only get the information they need to do their job.
How we use your information
- To run, secure and improve the Site.
- To send newsletters you asked for.
- To reply to messages and follow up on story tips.
- To show advertising that helps keep Zaku Malawi free.
We do not sell your personal information.
How long we keep it
We keep newsletter emails until you unsubscribe. We keep comments for as long as they are published. We keep messages and tips for as long as we need them to reply or report a story. Server logs are kept for a short time and then deleted.
Your choices and rights
You can unsubscribe from emails at any time with the link in any email. You can also ask us to show you, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you. Email us at [email protected] and we will respond as soon as we can.
Children’s privacy
The Site is for a general audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We protect your information with reasonable technical measures, including encrypted connections (HTTPS). But no method of sending or storing data over the Internet is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Links to other sites
Our Site links to other websites that we do not run. If you click a third-party link, you will go to that site. We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies or practices of other sites, so please review the privacy policy of every site you visit.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the new version on this page and change the effective date at the top. Please check this page now and then.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, email [email protected] or use our Contact page.
