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Kusakula
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Masho Kaloza
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Limbo lyami lyapwile namaukalu amavulu. Kuswita meya kuvanga kwimana mumukana wausuku kumuyengo umwe.
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.
Twavandaminyinenga kulya chakutukafwa kuvakwetu.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Twakiyilenga mazuvo etu washi kuchinyisa veji.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Vanyike vavavulu vechele shikola.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Vanyike vamaphwevo vazachilenga ungamba mumembo akwavo.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Vanyike vamalunga vakimbilenga mumembo shimbu vakwavo vazachililenga mumande avathu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Omu peho yahuhwile yapekumwinenga mapepa aze asakaminenga hamafwo nahajimbango nahamalapa avathu.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Vathu valilemekelenga navivanjilo vyakupazwojoka evi kavambililenga kanawako.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Jino likumbi limwe, mupombi womine kaha jisuhwa jetu jasalile jamupolongwa.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Tata ahichishilemo mutambi, zuvo hizuvo mangana vathu valikungulule nakushimutwila.
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.
Vathu valikungulwile mwishi yamutondo nakwivwilila.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Tata emanyine nakukhokweza vathu, “Twatela tuzachile hamwe mangana tuhase kukumisa maukalu etu mwimbo.”
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.”
Kanyike Ndumba wamyaka yakusemuka itanu-nayitatu, oku natwame hamungowa atambakanyine, “Ami ngunahase kuzata mulimo wakukomba.”
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.”
Phwevo umwe ahanjikile ngwenyi, “Maphwevo vanahase kulinunga nayami nakulima vyakulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Lunga mukwavo emanyine nakuhanjika ngwenyi, “Malunga navafula lishima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Vosena twatambakanyine nalizu limwe, “Twatela kwalumuna chiyoyelo chetu.” Kufuma lize likumbi twazachile hamwe nakukumisa maukalu etu.
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: Masho Kaloza
