Question 1

What is SwahiliBridge?

Accepted Answer

SwahiliBridge is Tanzania's premier Swahili language services and business research agency, founded by Mathayo Kapela — a linguist born and based in Dar es Salaam with over 10 years of experience. We serve US and EU enterprise clients including law firms, NGOs, UN agencies, media companies, and investors who need professional Swahili services or on-ground Tanzania intelligence.

Question 2

Who is Mathayo Kapela?

Accepted Answer

Mathayo Kapela is the founder and lead specialist at SwahiliBridge. A Tanzania-native linguist from Dar es Salaam, he personally handles every client relationship and leads all projects. With over a decade of experience serving enterprise clients, he brings both deep language expertise and practical East Africa business knowledge to every engagement.

Question 3

What languages do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Our primary specialisation is Swahili — in all its regional varieties including Tanzanian, Kenyan, and coastal Swahili. We translate between Swahili and English (US and UK). For other East African languages such as Kikuyu or Luganda, we can refer trusted specialist partners on request.

Question 4

What types of clients do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Our clients include international law firms, UN agencies, NGOs and development organisations, media and streaming companies, investment funds and due diligence firms, technology companies entering East Africa, and government contractors. Most are based in the US or EU and need a trusted, professional Swahili-speaking partner in Tanzania.

Question 5

Where is SwahiliBridge based?

Accepted Answer

SwahiliBridge is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is a deliberate advantage — it means we operate in the Tanzania time zone, giving US and EU clients overnight turnaround. You submit end of your business day; we deliver by your morning.

Question 6

What language services do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer nine core language services: Swahili Translation (certified and standard), Voice-Over & Dubbing, Subtitles & Captions, Content Writing, App & Website Localization, Marketing Translation, Social Media Management, Proofreading & QA, and Interpretation (consecutive and simultaneous). All services are available with NDA standard on every project.

Question 7

Are your translations certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We provide certified translations for legal, immigration, and court submission purposes. Certification includes a signed declaration of accuracy and, where required, notarisation through our partner network in Tanzania and the US. Please indicate at the time of quoting whether certification is required — it may affect turnaround time and price.

Question 8

Do you offer same-day delivery?

Accepted Answer

Same-day delivery is available for standard documents up to approximately 1,500 words, depending on current workload. For larger volumes, overnight delivery is our standard — submit by end of your business day (US Eastern or UK time), receive delivery by morning. Please flag urgency when requesting a quote so we can confirm availability.

Question 9

What is the minimum order size?

Accepted Answer

There is no strict minimum. We work on projects of all sizes, from a single-page legal document to multi-million-word localization programmes. For very short projects (under 200 words), a minimum project fee may apply — this will be stated in your quote.

Question 10

Can you handle high-volume projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We regularly manage large-volume projects — 40,000+ words in under a week is within our operational capacity. For sustained high-volume needs, we recommend a retainer arrangement to guarantee resource availability. Contact us to discuss your volume profile.

Question 11

Do you use machine translation or AI?

Accepted Answer

No. All our translations are produced by human specialists — Mathayo Kapela and a vetted team of native Swahili translators. We do not use machine translation output, even as a starting point. We believe — and evidence supports — that machine translation of Swahili introduces errors that are both subtle and high-risk in professional contexts.

Question 12

What topics can you research?

Accepted Answer

Our Tanzania research covers: Business Intelligence (company profiles, competitor analysis, sector overviews), Investment Research (due diligence, regulatory landscape, risk assessment), On-Ground Field Research (supplier visits, site assessments, local interviews), Market Entry Research (full market entry packages), Government & Regulatory Research (licensing, permits, compliance), and Consumer & Market Research (surveys, focus groups, sentiment analysis).

Question 13

How do I know the research is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Our research combines primary and secondary sources. For primary intelligence, Mathayo conducts in-person interviews, site visits, and direct government liaison — this is information that cannot be found in published reports. Secondary sources are cross-referenced against multiple official and reputable outlets. All reports include a clear methodology section and source citations. We also flag where information is uncertain or subject to rapid change.

Question 14

Can you visit specific locations in Tanzania?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is one of our key differentiators. We can conduct on-ground field visits across Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, Zanzibar, and rural areas. Site visits, supplier assessments, factory inspections, and local stakeholder interviews are all available. Pricing is based on location, duration, and scope — from $400/day for Dar es Salaam to $120/hour for specialist engagements.

Question 15

What format are research reports delivered in?

Accepted Answer

Research reports are delivered as professional PDF documents with an executive summary, detailed findings, and appendices including raw interview notes or data where applicable. We can also deliver in Word format for clients who need to integrate findings into their own reports. Dashboard formats or slide decks are available on request.

Question 16

How long does a research project take?

Accepted Answer

Turnaround depends on scope. A focused business intelligence report on a single company can be delivered in 3–5 business days. A full market entry package typically takes 10–15 business days. On-ground field research adds travel and interview scheduling time. We will confirm a realistic timeline in your quote and will not commit to a deadline we cannot meet.

Question 17

Can you conduct interviews and surveys in Swahili?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is where our language and research capabilities combine to create something no competitor can replicate. We conduct interviews, focus groups, and structured surveys in Swahili, then translate and synthesise the findings for English-speaking clients. This allows access to respondents who are more candid and accurate in their first language.

Question 18

How is pricing determined?

Accepted Answer

Language service pricing is per-word for translation and localization, per-minute for voice-over and subtitles, and per-hour for interpretation. Research pricing is per-hour or per-project depending on scope. All pricing is transparent — rates are published on our Pricing page, and your quote will itemise every line. There are no hidden fees.

Question 19

Do you accept PayPal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We accept PayPal, bank transfer (SWIFT/wire), and major credit cards via Stripe. For enterprise clients on retainer, we also support ACH bank transfer (US) and BACS (UK). Invoice currency is USD by default; GBP and EUR invoicing is available on request.

Question 20

What is net-30?

Accepted Answer

Net-30 means payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Net-30 terms are available for established enterprise clients and organisations with verified accounts — typically NGOs, law firms, and UN agencies we have worked with previously. New clients are invoiced 50% upfront, 50% on delivery unless a credit account has been established.

Question 21

Can I pay after delivery?

Accepted Answer

For new clients, we require 50% upfront payment before work begins. Full payment before delivery is also available. Clients with an established relationship may qualify for post-delivery invoicing. If you have specific procurement constraints (purchase orders, net-60 terms), contact us and we will work with your requirements where possible.

Question 22

Do you offer discounts for large or ongoing projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Volume discounts are available for projects above 50,000 words, and retainer arrangements include reduced per-unit rates in exchange for committed monthly volume. Research clients commissioning multiple reports may also receive package pricing. Discounts are quoted case-by-case — include your volume estimate when requesting a quote.

Question 23

How do I submit a project?

Accepted Answer

You can submit a project via our Get Quote form, by emailing us directly, or by booking a discovery call. Upload your files, describe the scope, and indicate your deadline. We will confirm receipt within 2 hours during business hours (Tanzania time, which covers US and EU business days) and send a detailed quote.

Question 24

How quickly will I receive a quote?

Accepted Answer

We guarantee a quote response within 2 business hours for standard requests. Complex projects — large research scopes, multi-language localization, or broadcast-certified voice-over — may require up to 4 hours for accurate scoping. If your request is urgent, flag it and we will prioritise.

Question 25

What file formats do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all common document formats: DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, TXT, and InDesign (IDML). For software localization, we work with XLIFF, PO, JSON, and XML. For media projects, we accept MP4, MOV, MXF, and all common audio formats. If your format is not listed, ask — we handle most file types.

Question 26

Can I track my project status?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once a project is underway, you will receive a project confirmation with a timeline and delivery date. For larger projects, we provide milestone updates at key stages. You can also reach Mathayo directly by email or WhatsApp at any point for a status update — there is no helpdesk between you and the person doing the work.

Question 27

How do I request revisions?

Accepted Answer

All projects include one round of revisions within the original scope at no extra charge. To request a revision, simply reply to the delivery email with your specific feedback. Revisions are typically turned around within 24 hours. Changes that fall outside the original scope (e.g. changes to source content after translation has begun) will be quoted separately.

Question 28

How fast can you deliver?

Accepted Answer

Standard delivery is 24–48 hours for most translation projects up to 5,000 words. Same-day delivery is available for urgent documents up to ~1,500 words. Our Tanzania time zone means overnight delivery is structurally built in — submit at the end of your US Eastern or UK business day, receive delivery the next morning.

Question 29

What are your working hours?

Accepted Answer

Mathayo works East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3), which aligns perfectly with overnight delivery for US and EU clients. Practically: a US Eastern client submitting at 5pm receives delivery by 8am. A UK client submitting at 6pm receives delivery by 8am. For truly urgent same-day requests, reach out via WhatsApp — response time is typically under 30 minutes during Tanzania business hours.

Question 30

Do you offer rush or emergency turnaround?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rush delivery (under 12 hours) is available for qualified projects and carries a 50% surcharge. Emergency turnaround (under 4 hours) for critical documents — court submissions, broadcast deadlines, regulatory filings — is available by prior arrangement and carries a 100% surcharge. Contact us directly via WhatsApp for emergency requests.

Question 31

How are completed files delivered?

Accepted Answer

Files are delivered via secure email with download links hosted on encrypted cloud storage. For large research reports or media files, we use WeTransfer Pro or a client-specified secure file sharing platform. Hard copies of certified translations can be couriered to any address; DHL costs are added to the invoice.

Question 32

Do you sign an NDA before seeing our files?

Accepted Answer

Yes — always. An NDA is standard on every project, signed before we see a single file. This is not an add-on or a premium feature. We use our own short-form NDA (downloadable from our website) or we will sign yours. For enterprise clients, we can work within your master service agreement. No file is ever received without confidentiality protection in place.

Question 33

Is my data and content secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Files are transferred via encrypted channels, stored on encrypted servers, and access is restricted to the team members working on your project. We do not store client files beyond the project retention period (90 days by default, adjustable at your request). We do not use client content for training data, examples, or any other secondary purpose.

Question 34

What happens to my files after a project is complete?

Accepted Answer

Files are retained for 90 days after delivery (to allow for revision requests), then securely deleted. If you require earlier deletion, we will action it on request and confirm in writing. If you require longer retention — for example, for ongoing projects — this can be agreed as part of a retainer arrangement.

Question 35

Do you work with other translators or subcontractors on my project?

Accepted Answer

For some high-volume or specialist projects, we work with a vetted network of native Swahili translators — all of whom sign our own NDA before being added to any project. Mathayo Kapela personally reviews and quality-checks all work before delivery, regardless of who contributed. We will always disclose if a project involves additional team members.

Question 36

Do you offer retainer agreements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Retainer agreements are available for clients with predictable monthly volume in either language services or research. Retainers provide guaranteed resource availability, reduced per-unit pricing, priority turnaround, and a dedicated account structure with monthly reporting. Minimum retainer engagements start from $500/month. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Question 37

Can you scale for large enterprise projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have delivered 40,000-word translation projects in 5 days and multi-document legal packages within 48 hours. For very large-scale sustained programmes, we build a project-specific team around your needs. We are transparent about capacity — if a project exceeds what we can deliver to our quality standard, we will say so before committing.

Question 38

Do you work with UN agencies and government bodies?

Accepted Answer

Yes — UN agencies, NGOs, and government contractors are a significant part of our client base. We are familiar with the procurement, compliance, and documentation requirements of institutional clients, including purchase order workflows, vendor registration, and the specific terminology standards used by UN bodies. We have delivered for UNHCR, WFP, and several bilateral development agencies.

Question 39

Can we set up a Master Service Agreement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Enterprise clients can establish a Master Service Agreement (MSA) that governs all projects under a single commercial and legal framework — covering pricing, turnaround SLAs, NDA terms, revision policy, payment terms, and liability. An MSA simplifies procurement for repeat clients and removes the need to negotiate terms on each project. Contact us to begin the MSA setup process.

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