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Kuzhina
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Oscar Zangata
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Chitung’ilu chami chading’a namakabi nankashi. Twading’a munyizela yayilehi nakutaha menzhi ku payipi yimu.
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.
Twadin’ga nakuhembela kutuholesha yakuda kudi antu acheng’i.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Twading’a nakwenzela yinsu swayi mulon’ga wamakombi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Anyana amavula alekeli shikola.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Anyana awambanda azatilengà undungú munyikala yikwawu.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Atwansi amayala adingá nakuhitangàna mumukala akwawu adingá nakuzata hazhi famu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Neyi kunahiti mpepela, mapepa amazhilu edin’ga nakulamata hanyitondu nahamalapa.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Antu edi’ga nukuditapa namagilasi anatiliwu chatama.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Ifuku dimu, mupayipi wamenzhi womini kaha nawa zhinswaha zhetu zhedin’ga zhakadi menji.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Tata yami wahitilimu hetala hetala kulezha antu kulonda enzi kwibumba dayihosha.
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.
Antu adikunwilili mwishina da mutondu wauneni nakutiyilila.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Tata yami wemeni nakuhosha nindi, “Twatela kuzatila hamu kulonda tumanishi kukala chetu tudi nachu.
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 wayaaka yitanu nayisatu, washakamini hamutayi wamutondu nakupidika nindi,”Nikuyikwashaku kukombozhola.”
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.”
Mama wumu wahosheli nindi,”Akamama akunkwashako kutumba yakudya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Iyila wumu wemeni nakuhosha nindi,”Amayala akwimba ishima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Twezhima wetu twabidikili nezu dimu netu,”Twatela kuhimpa kashakaminu ketu.” Kufuma ifuku denadina, twazatilen’ga hamu nakumanisha kukala chetu.”
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: Oscar Zangata
