How we vet professionals
Anyone can build a directory. The reason to use this one is that nobody appears in it until we have checked they are who they say they are, and that they are qualified to do the work. Here is exactly what that means.
1. They apply, with evidence
An applicant submits their business details, the professions they work in, and their contact details. They upload a national ID, proof of the qualifications or registrations that their profession requires, and at least two contactable references.
2. We check the identity
We confirm the identity document is genuine and that it matches the person applying. An application in a business name still has a real, named person behind it.
3. We verify qualifications at source
We do not take a certificate at face value. Where a profession has a registering body — the Law Society of Zimbabwe, PAAB and ICAZ for accountants, the Health Professions Authority, the Estate Agents Council — we confirm the registration directly with that body, and that it is current.
4. We contact the references
We speak to at least two past clients or professional referees. We ask about the work itself: was it delivered, was it what was agreed, would they use them again.
5. We decide, and record why
An approval records exactly what was checked, by whom, and on what date — and that record is what produces the verification badge on the listing. A rejection records the reason, and the applicant can fix the gap and reapply.
6. We re-check every two years
Registrations lapse and circumstances change. Verification expires after 24 months, and a professional must submit current credentials again to stay listed.
What vetting does not mean
We would rather be plain about the limits than have you assume more than we deliver.
- It is not a guarantee of the work. Verification tells you a professional is real and qualified. It cannot promise that every job goes well. That is what reviews are for.
- We do not hold your money. You pay the professional directly, so we cannot recover a payment for you if something goes wrong. What we can do is investigate a report and suspend a professional who is not meeting the standard.
- We do not set prices. Every price on this platform is quoted by the professional for your specific job. We do not take a commission, so nobody has any reason to inflate a quote for our benefit.
Why our reviews mean something
Only a client who requested a quote, accepted it, and then confirmed the work was completed can leave a review. There is no way to post one without that chain of events existing between two real accounts. A professional can reply to a review in public, but can never delete one.
Common questions
- How does Nhaka Yako verify a professional?
- Before anyone is listed we confirm their identity document is genuine and matches the applicant, verify their qualifications directly with the registering body for their profession — the Law Society of Zimbabwe, PAAB and ICAZ, the Health Professions Authority, the Estate Agents Council — and contact at least two references about work actually delivered. The approval records what was checked, by whom and on what date, and that record is what produces the verification badge. Verification expires after 24 months and must be renewed with current credentials.
- Does Nhaka Yako take a commission or hold my money?
- No. We hold no money and take no commission on any engagement. You pay the professional directly, and their email address and phone number are published on their listing, so you are never locked into transacting through us. It also means we cannot recover a payment for you if something goes wrong — what we can do is investigate a report and suspend a professional who is not meeting the standard.
- Can anyone leave a review on Nhaka Yako?
- No. Only a client who requested a quote, accepted it, and then confirmed the work was completed can leave a review. There is no way to post one without that chain of events existing between two real accounts. A professional can reply to a review in public but can never delete one, and we do not remove a review for being unfavourable.
- What does verification not cover?
- Verification tells you a professional is real, is who they say they are, and is qualified and registered to do the work. It is not a guarantee that any particular job goes well — that is what the reviews are for. We do not set or vet prices, and because we hold no money we cannot reverse a payment.
- Is it free to use Nhaka Yako?
- Yes, for both sides. Browsing the directory and requesting quotes is free for clients, and there is no obligation to accept a quote. Listing is free for professionals and we take no commission on the work they win.
- How long does it take to be vetted as a professional?
- Most decisions take about five working days from the point the evidence is complete. The delay is almost always waiting on a reference to answer the phone or a registering body to confirm. A rejection records the reason, and an applicant can close the gap and reapply.