Refund and cancellation policy

This policy covers the following products. Each category has specific terms set out below.

The Capital Media's subscription products deliver digital content immediately on payment. When a subscriber pays for a billing period, they receive access to newsletter editions, platform data and analytical content from the moment the subscription activates. Because this content is delivered and consumed digitally, and because production costs are incurred regardless of whether the subscriber reads it, subscription fees are generally not refundable for periods already accessed. This is consistent with the treatment of digital subscriptions and intangible content under Botswana consumer law.

Cancellations stop future billing. They do not reverse charges already made for billing periods that have started, and access continues until the end of the current billing period. The Capital Media does not offer prorated refunds for partial billing periods except in the specific circumstances in Section 04. All refund requests are assessed case by case; submitting a request does not guarantee a refund. We respond to all requests within five business days.

Subscribers may cancel at any time through the subscriber portal at thecapitalbw.com, or by contacting The Capital Media directly at info@thecapitalbw.com.

The Capital Media does not offer refunds as a general practice. A refund will be considered in the following circumstances, and processed where approved.

A refund will not be approved where:

• The subscriber did not read or use the content during the billing period. Access was provided and the subscription was active.
• The subscriber changed their mind after the billing period started and content was accessed.
• The subscriber was dissatisfied with a specific edition, episode or analytical position. Editorial independence means content decisions are not adjusted for subscriber preferences, and dissatisfaction with editorial content is not a billing dispute.
• The subscriber forgot to cancel before the next billing date. Billing dates are fixed and communicated at subscription.
• The subscriber was unaware of a renewal. Renewal reminders are sent by the payment processor before annual renewals; we are not responsible for emails blocked by spam filters.

All requests are handled directly by The Capital Media. The payment portal may also be used to manage billing, but for any dispute or refund request, contact us directly.

1. Email info@thecapitalbw.com with the subject line "Subscription: Refund Request" or "Subscription: Cancellation Request".
2. Include your name, the email used to subscribe, the subscription tier, and a brief description of the request.
3. We acknowledge within two business days and respond with a decision within five business days.
4. Where a refund is approved, it is processed back to the original payment method. Processing time depends on the method and may take three to ten business days to appear.

Institutional subscriptions (Capital Intelligence Plan at USD 99 per month or USD 950 per year, and Economic Intelligence at USD 200 per month) are entered into under a separate written agreement or purchase order. The terms of that agreement govern any cancellation or refund dispute and take precedence over this policy where they differ. Where no separate written agreement exists, this policy applies in full.

Institutional subscriptions grant access to up to five named users. Named seats are designated at subscription and may be changed on written request. On cancellation, all named seat access is revoked at the end of the billing period. No prorated refunds are offered for named seats that are not used during a billing period.

Subscriptions are processed through a third party payment processor acting as merchant of record. Payment processing, billing records and subscription management are handled by that processor. Subscribers with a charge dispute we have been unable to resolve are entitled to raise a chargeback with their bank or card issuer; unresolved chargebacks for valid charges may result in suspension of the account. The processor's own refund and merchant policies may apply in addition to this policy, and where the processor's terms are more favourable to the subscriber, those terms apply.

This policy is governed by the laws of the Republic of Botswana. Any dispute arising from a subscription, cancellation or refund request that cannot be resolved through direct communication may be referred to the appropriate consumer protection body in Botswana.