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Muhato
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Munzi wa luna neunani matata amang’atang’ata. Nelupanganga mukoloko ulimumu 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.
Nelulibelenga lico ze filwe ki babamu.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Nelukiyanga minyako ya mandu aluna kamaubebe kabaka la masholi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Bana babang’ata baitulela sikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Basizani babanyinyani nebabeleka musebezi wa mwa malapa mwa minzi yemimu.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Bashimani babanyinyani neba yembana mwahae babamu 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 nalulanga kwa likota ni fa 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 sehiwa ki mabotela a pwacehile anayumbilwe kusina tokomelo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Cwale zazi leling’wi, pompi yaoma mi lipupe 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 mi bateleza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Bo ndate 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 ze keta lizoho ka ze talu, yanainzi fa sishingwa ahuwa, “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.”
Musali alimumu ali, “basali bakona kukopana nina kwa kucala lico.
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Muuna yomumu ayema mi ali, “banna bakayepa lisima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Seluhuwa ka linzwi lilin’gwi kaufela 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
