Namba ya mita na namba ya mteja zimeandikwa hapa.

Ya is the linking word meaning "of" here.

• namba ya mita = number of the meter / meter number
• namba ya mteja = number of the customer / customer number

In Swahili, this -a linking pattern changes to match the noun class of the first noun. Since namba belongs to the N-class here, the linker is ya.

So:

• namba ya mita
• namba ya mteja

both mean the number belonging to / associated with something.

Repeating namba makes the sentence very clear and natural:

• namba ya mita na namba ya mteja

This is like saying the meter number and the customer number.

You may sometimes hear shorter phrasing in context, but repeating the noun is very common and helps avoid ambiguity, especially in practical written language such as bills, forms, and instructions.

Because the sentence is talking about two things together:

• namba ya mita
• namba ya mteja

Together, they form a plural subject, so the verb uses the plural agreement:

• zi- = subject agreement for this plural noun class
• -me- = perfect marker
• andikwa = be written / be written down

So:

• imeandikwa = it has been written
• zimeandikwa = they have been written

Even though namba looks the same in singular and plural, the agreement changes:

• singular: namba imeandikwa
• plural: namba zimeandikwa

It can be broken down like this:

• zi- = subject prefix for the plural noun class here
• -me- = perfect tense/aspect marker
• -andik- = root meaning write
• -w- = passive extension, giving be written
• -a = final vowel

So zimeandikwa literally means something like:

they-have-been-written

In natural English, that often becomes:

• are written
• have been written
• are written down

depending on context.

Because the focus is on the numbers, not on who wrote them.

• zimeandikwa = have been written / are written

This is very common in Swahili when the result matters more than the person doing the action.

Compare:

• Mtu ameandika namba hapa. = Someone has written the number here.
• Namba zimeandikwa hapa. = The numbers are written here.

The passive is especially common in notices, instructions, labels, and official language.

Not exactly. -me- is usually called the perfect marker.

It often means:

• has/have done
• is/are in a completed state

So zimeandikwa hapa can mean:

• have been written here
• are written here

In practical English, the best translation depends on context. In a sentence like this, English often prefers are written here, even though the Swahili form contains the perfect marker.

Namba is in the N-class (often called class 9/10).

This matters because noun class controls agreement in Swahili:

• connectors like ya
• verb prefixes like i- or zi-
• adjectives and other modifiers

For namba:

• singular often takes i-
• plural often takes zi-

Examples:

• Namba imeandikwa. = The number is written.
• Namba zimeandikwa. = The numbers are written.

The form namba itself does not usually change between singular and plural, so the agreement helps show the difference.

Mteja means customer. The m- is a noun class prefix.

This noun belongs to the m-/wa- class for people:

• mteja = customer (singular)
• wateja = customers (plural)

That is why:

• namba ya mteja = customer number
• namba za wateja = customers' numbers

So the prefix is part of how Swahili marks singular and plural for people.

Here, mita means meter, usually a utility meter such as:

• electricity meter
• water meter

So namba ya mita is the identifying number of that meter.

Be careful: depending on context, mita can also relate to metres as a unit, but in this kind of sentence it clearly means meter as a device.

Hapa means here.

In this sentence:

• Namba ya mita na namba ya mteja zimeandikwa hapa. = The meter number and the customer number are written here.

Swahili is somewhat flexible with word order, so you may also see:

• Hapa namba ya mita na namba ya mteja zimeandikwa.

But the original order is very natural, especially when the speaker first names the things and then says where they are.

Yes. Namba and nambari are both used for number.

In many everyday contexts, namba is very common and natural. Depending on region, speaker, and level of formality, you may hear either one.

So these are both understandable:

• namba ya mita
• nambari ya mita

But in ordinary modern usage, namba is extremely common.

Yes, very much so. This kind of sentence is typical of practical, everyday Swahili used on:

• bills
• forms
• utility documents
• customer service instructions
• labels

It has a straightforward informational style:

• identify the items
• say where they are

That makes it a very useful pattern to learn.

Yes. It gives you a very useful pattern:

[noun] + [noun] + zimeandikwa hapa

For example:

• Jina na anwani zimeandikwa hapa. = The name and address are written here.
• Namba za simu zimeandikwa hapa. = The phone numbers are written here.
• Maelezo yameandikwa hapa. = The details are written here.

It also reinforces three common features of Swahili:

• the -a connector (ya, za, etc.)
• noun class agreement
• passive forms like imeandikwa / zimeandikwa