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Muhato
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Munzi wa luna neunani matata amañata hahulu. Nelupanganga mukoloko ulimuñwi womutelele wakuka mezi kwa pompi.
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.
Nelulibelelanga lico ze filwe kuzwelela kubabañwi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Nelukiyanga mandu yaluna kabubebe bebe bakeñisa masholi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Bana babañata baitulezi sikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Basizani babanyinyani nebabelekanga misebezi ya mwa malapa kuba minzi yemiñwi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Bashimani babanyinyani neba yembana mwahae, babañwi nebabelekanga mwa masimu abatu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Moya aneufukanga, mapepa asinatuso nakolakatelanga kwa likota ni fa makwakwa a malapa.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Batu neba sehakiwanga ki mabotela a pwacakehile anayumbilwe kusina tokomelo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Cwale zazi leliñwi, pompi yaoma mi lingongolo zaluna nelili mukungulu.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Bo ndate baya lapa ni lapa kukupa batu kuli batahe kwa mukopano.
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.
Batu bakopana mwa tasi a kota yetuna inge bateleza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Bondate bayema mi bali, “Luswanehela kubeleka hamoho kufeza matata aluna.”
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.”
Juma wa lilimo zeketalizoho ni zetalu, yanainzi fa sishingwa ahuwa ali, “Nakona kutusa kwa kukenisa.”
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.”
Alimuñwi musali ali, “Basali bakona kukopana nina kucala lico.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Alimuñwi muuna ayema mi ali, “Baana bakayepa lisima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Lwahuwa kaufela luna ka linzwi liliñwi luli; “Luswanela kucinca bupilo bwaluna.” Kuzwa zazi leo, nelubelekanga hamoho kufeza matata aluna.
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: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
Language: Lozi
