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Kufuukula
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
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Pamuzhi wetu panjinga makatazho aavula bingi. Twaimananga mumunongo walepa pakuuba amba tutapule mema kufuma kumupompi umotu.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Mu mushi wandi mwali amafya ayengi. Twalitantame umulongo pakuti twingatapa ameenshi kuli pompi umo.
Twapembelelanga byakuja bitupanga bantu.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Twashinkanga mazubo etu bukiji namambo akuchiina bangivi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Baana bavula balekele masukuulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Banyike babakazhi baingijiilnga makito mumizhi ya bukaboyi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Banyike babalume bapitañanangatu mumizhi bino bamo baingilanga mumajimi abantu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Inge mwela wapuupa, ndochi ya bipepala yanyamukanga nekwikala kubichi ne kuluvimba.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Bantu bekozhezhenga kumabotolo alajikilenga obatailenga kitaye taye.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Juuba jimo, uno mupompi wameema waumine kabiji tunchinyi twetu twajingatu kwakubula meema.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Ba taata bapitañene kumazubo abantu nakwibabula amba batanwe kumbuñano ya muzhi.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Bataata baile cila ŋanda mukuwita abantu ukwisasangwa ku cilye ca mushi.
Bantu basambakenejile pamo munshi yakichi kikatampe kabiji nekuteleka.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Ba taata baimene nekwamba amba,” Twafwainwa kwingijila pa kuuba amba tupwishe ano makatazho.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Bataata epakwima abati, “Tufwile ukubombela pamo pakuti tupwishe amafya yesu.”
Mwana wa myaka itanu na isatu aye Juma wabijikile amba,” Nakonsha kwimukwasha kuwamisha.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Umwana wamyaka cine-konse-konse uweshina lya Juma, uwaikele pa mulando abilikisha ati, “Kuti nabombako umulimo wa kuwamya.”
Inetu umo waambile amba,” bainetu bafwainwa kunkwasha kujima byakuja.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Shetu umo waimene nekwamba amba, “ateba babalume tusa kupoya mushima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Bonsetu twabijikile najiwi jimo amba, twafwainwa kupimpula bwikalo bwetu.” Kufumatu pajoja juuba twaingijilenga pamo nekupwisha makatazho amumuzhi wetu.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Bonse twapundila pamo atuti, “Tufwile ukwalula imikalile yesu.” Ukufuma bulya bushiku twabombele pamo mukupwisha amafya yesu.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
