Legal

Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information, in full compliance with Tanzanian law.

Effective date · 23 July 2026

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, apply for membership, access our services, or interact with us.

We operate in full compliance with the Cooperatives Societies Act, Chapter 211 (with its 2025 amendments), the Microfinance Act No. 10 of 2018, and the regulations and guidelines issued by the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission. Your trust is important to us, and we are dedicated to handling your information with the highest standards of care and security.

01

Information We Collect

We collect personal information in various ways to effectively serve you and fulfil our obligations as a cooperative society.

a) Information You Provide Voluntarily

This includes information you provide when applying for membership, submitting loan applications, making deposits or withdrawals, attending General Meetings, or contacting us. It may include your full name, date of birth, national identification details, contact information (email, phone, and postal address), employment details (employer, position, and salary), financial information (savings, loan history, and bank account details), next of kin and nominee information, and any other information you choose to provide.

b) Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect technical information such as your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, pages you view, time spent on pages, referring website, and device information. We use this to understand how visitors interact with our website, improve user experience, and enhance the security of our systems.

c) Information from Third Parties

In certain circumstances, we may receive information about you from third parties as permitted by law, including credit reference bureaus to assess loan applications, government agencies for identity verification, or service providers to facilitate transactions. We ensure any third-party information is obtained and used in compliance with applicable laws.

02

How We Use Your Information

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD uses your personal information for legitimate and lawful purposes essential to the operation of our cooperative society and the delivery of our services.

a) Membership Management

To process membership applications, verify your eligibility as outlined in our Bylaws, maintain accurate member registers, and communicate with you regarding your membership status, General Meetings, elections, and other important matters.

b) Financial Services and Loan Processing

To process savings deposits, withdrawals, and transactions; and for loans, to evaluate eligibility, assess repayment capacity, verify collateral and guarantors, make lending decisions, and monitor repayments and overdue accounts.

c) Communication

To send important notices about your account, changes to our policies, service updates, and new products; to respond to inquiries; and to share educational materials and financial tips.

d) Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Obligations

To comply with applicable laws, fulfil reporting obligations, prevent and detect fraud and money laundering, comply with court orders and legal processes, and cooperate with lawful investigations.

e) Improvement and Development

We use aggregated and anonymized data to analyze trends, evaluate the effectiveness of our services, and develop new products and features that better serve our members.

f) Security and Protection

To protect the security and integrity of our systems, prevent unauthorized access, and investigate potential breaches or suspicious activities.

03

Sharing of Your Information

We respect the confidentiality of your personal information. We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

a) Service Providers

Trusted third-party providers who assist us in operating our website, processing transactions, providing IT support, conducting audits, or performing essential services. They are contractually obligated to protect your information, use it only for the specified purposes, and maintain appropriate security.

b) Regulatory and Government Authorities

The Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission, the Bank of Tanzania, credit reference bureaus, and other government agencies as required by law. In accordance with Section 78 of our Bylaws, we submit member loan repayment information to credit reference bureaus.

c) Legal Requirements

When required by law, court order, subpoena, or other legal process, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of HIFADHI SACCOS LTD, our members, or others.

d) With Your Consent

For other purposes with your explicit consent, which you may withdraw at any time.

As a cooperative, we are strictly prohibited from selling, processing, trading, sharing, publishing, or transferring cooperative data to any third party without the consent of the cooperative or approval from the regulatory authority, as per Section 67 of our Bylaws requiring our leaders and officials to maintain confidentiality.

04

Data Security

We take the security of your personal information very seriously. HIFADHI SACCOS LTD implements and maintains a comprehensive set of technical, organizational, and administrative security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption: Encryption technologies protect sensitive data during transmission and storage.
  • Access Controls: Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel based on their need to perform their duties.
  • Physical Security: Secure offices and facilities protect physical records and systems.
  • Regular Audits: Regular assessments and audits of our data protection practices identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
  • Employee Training: Our officials, leaders, and employees are trained on data protection principles and confidentiality obligations.

While we strive to provide the highest level of security, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you provide your information at your own risk.

05

Data Retention

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD retains your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to comply with legal, accounting, auditing, and reporting requirements, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements and policies. The retention period may vary depending on the nature of the information and applicable legal requirements. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or destroy it in accordance with our data retention policy and applicable laws.

06

Your Rights Regarding Your Information

In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, you have the following rights:

  • Right to Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy of it.
  • Right to Correction: Request that we correct any inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Where we process your information based on consent, withdraw that consent at any time.
  • Right to Object: Object to the processing of your information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.
  • Right to Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the relevant regulatory authority, including the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below. We will respond in accordance with applicable law, and we may ask you to verify your identity to protect your privacy and security.

07

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage patterns, and improve our services. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how you interact with our website.

  • Necessary Cookies: Essential for the website to function, enabling core features such as security, authentication, and navigation.
  • Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings to provide a more personalized experience.
  • Analytics and Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve its performance and functionality.

You may accept or decline cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality and usability of our website.

08

Children's Privacy

Our website, membership, and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. In accordance with our Bylaws, membership is only open to individuals who are at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to remove such information from our records.

09

Changes to This Privacy Policy

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or regulatory guidance. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our website or services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

10

Compliance with Tanzanian Regulations

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD operates in strict compliance with the Cooperatives Societies Act, Chapter 211 (with its 2025 amendments), and the Microfinance Act No. 10 of 2018, as well as the regulations and guidelines issued by the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission and other relevant authorities.

As outlined in our Bylaws, particularly Sections 67 and 78, our leaders, officials, and employees are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of member information and to report accurate data to credit reference bureaus. We are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the collection, use, and protection of your personal information.

Contact us

Questions about this document or your information? We're here to help.

HIFADHI SACCOS LTD
P.O. Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania
Location: Burka Estate, Elarai Ward, Arusha