Frequently Asked Questions

To create an account:

1. Click on the "Sign Up" or "Register" button at the top right of the website
2. Enter your email address and choose a password
3. Fill in your personal details (name, phone number)
4. Verify your email address by clicking the link we send you
5. Once verified, you can log in and start exploring our library

Note: You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, or have parental consent if younger.

To reset your password:

1. Click on "Login" at the top right of the website
2. Click on "Forgot Password?" below the login form
3. Enter the email address associated with your account
4. Check your email for a password reset link (check spam folder if you don't see it)
5. Click the link and create a new password

If you're still having trouble, contact our support team at mabukuonline@gmail.com.

Yes, you can update your contact information:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to "My Profile" or "Account Settings"
3. Click on "Edit Profile" or "Personal Information"
4. Update your email address or phone number
5. Save your changes

Important: If you change your email address, you'll need to verify the new email before it becomes active.

Yes! We offer a free trial for new users:

• Duration: 7-day free trial
• Features: Access to all premium books during trial period
• Requirements: Valid payment method required (no charges during trial)
• Cancellation: Cancel anytime before trial ends to avoid charges

To start your free trial, click on "Start Free Trial" on any subscription plan.

We offer three main subscription plans:

All prices are in Malawian Kwacha (MWK) and include VAT where applicable.

We accept the following payment methods:

• Airtel Money: Dial *211# or use Airtel Money app
• TNMP: Dial *444# or use TNMP app
• Bank Transfer: Direct bank deposit (Standard Bank, NBS, FDH)
• Debit/Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard (international cards accepted)
• PowerPay: Direct payment through PowerPay platform

All payments are processed securely through our certified payment partners.

To cancel your subscription:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to "Account Settings" → "Subscriptions"
3. Click on "Cancel Subscription"
4. Select your reason for cancellation
5. Confirm the cancellation

Important Notes:

• You can cancel anytime
• Cancellation stops future billing
• You'll retain access until the end of your paid period
• No refunds for partial months (except where required by law)

Our refund policy:

• Subscription fees: Generally non-refundable after service has been accessed
• Exceptions: Refunds may be issued in cases of:
  • Duplicate charges
  • Technical issues preventing access
  • Accidental purchases (within 24 hours)
• Free trial: Cancel before trial ends to avoid charges
• Legal rights: Your statutory consumer rights under Malawian law are not affected

To request a refund, contact our support team at mabukuonline@gmail.com.

Your reading limits depend on your subscription plan:

• Basic Plan: Unlimited reading from a curated selection of 100+ books
• Premium Plan: Unlimited reading from 500+ books in our library
• Family Plan: Unlimited reading from our entire collection (1000+ books)

There are no limits on how many books you can read per month. Read as much as you want!

Note: Some exclusive content may have additional access requirements.

Yes, offline reading is available for Premium and Family plans:

1. While online, open the book you want to read offline
2. Click the download icon (↓) or "Download for offline" button
3. The book will be saved to your device
4. Access downloaded books from "My Library" → "Downloads"

Limits:

• Premium Plan: Up to 10 books offline at a time
• Family Plan: Up to 20 books offline at a time
• Offline books expire after 30 days (re-download when online)

You can read on multiple devices:

• Web Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge on any computer
• Smartphones: Android (5.0+) and iOS (12.0+)
• Tablets: iPad, Android tablets
• E-readers: Kindle (via web browser)

Device Limits:

• Basic Plan: 1 device at a time
• Premium Plan: 3 devices at a time
• Family Plan: 5 devices at a time

You can manage your active devices in "Account Settings" → "Devices".

We regularly add new content:

• Daily: New blog posts, articles, and short stories
• Weekly: 5-10 new books added every Friday
• Monthly: Special collections and featured authors
• Quarterly: Major updates and new genre sections

Subscribe to our newsletter to get notified about new releases!

Content Sources:

• Local Malawian authors
• African literature collections
• International bestsellers
• Educational and academic texts

Try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check your internet connection
   • Try loading other websites to confirm connectivity
   • Switch between WiFi and mobile data
2. Clear browser cache and cookies
   • Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
   • Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Clear Data
   • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
3. Update your browser/app
   • Ensure you're using the latest version
   • Check for app updates in Play Store/App Store
4. Try a different device or browser
5. Disable browser extensions that might interfere

If problems persist, contact our technical support team.

If books aren't loading:

1. Check your subscription status
   • Ensure your subscription is active
   • Verify payment was successful
2. Refresh the page (F5 or Ctrl+R)
3. Clear browser cache (see previous question)
4. Check device compatibility
   • Update your operating system
   • Ensure sufficient storage space
5. Try reading mode instead of PDF viewer

Common causes:

• Slow internet connection (books need 2MB+ to load)
• Outdated browser/plugin
• Firewall/antivirus blocking content
• Device storage full

To report technical issues:

1. Gather information
   • Take screenshots of the error
   • Note the URL where error occurred
   • Record error messages exactly
2. Include device details
   • Device type (phone, tablet, computer)
   • Operating system and version
   • Browser name and version
3. Contact support
   • Email: support@mabukuonline.com
   • Phone: +265 991 736 110
   • Live chat (available on website during business hours)

Response time: We aim to respond within 24 hours on weekdays.

To publish your book:

1. Create an Author Account
   • Sign up as an author (different from reader account)
   • Complete author profile with bio and photo
2. Prepare Your Manuscript
   • Format: PDF, EPUB, or Word document
   • Include cover image (minimum 1200x1800 pixels)
   • Add book description and metadata
3. Submit for Review
   • Upload through author dashboard
   • Review takes 5-10 business days
4. Publication
   • Once approved, set pricing/royalty rate
   • Book goes live within 48 hours

Visit our Authors Portal for detailed guidelines.

Our royalty structure:

Minimum payout: MWK 5,000 accumulated royalties

Payment methods: Bank transfer, mobile money, PayPal

We do not accept:

• Plagiarized content (copied from other authors)
• Hate speech or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, etc.
• Explicit adult content without proper age warnings
• Illegal or harmful content promoting violence or crime
• Poorly formatted manuscripts (unreadable, multiple errors)
• Previously published works without proof of rights
• Academic dishonesty (essay mills, cheat materials)

Content Guidelines:

• Respect Malawian laws and cultural values
• Provide age-appropriate content warnings
• Ensure proper copyright and attribution
• Maintain professional quality standards