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Matokwero
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Ruthgela Shawanga
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Mukunda wange wa karire no maghukukutu gho mengi. Nga tukaranga mumuyira ghoghure tuvete meyu kupomba.
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.
Nga tutatereranga yidya eyi hana tupa hamweya.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Nga tukutjaperanga wangu pamurandu gho haka widhi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Hanuke hohengi hashwayire mushure.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Hakamadighana nga gha rughananga mumayimbo mumikunda dhimweya.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Hakafumughana nga ha rendarendanga mumukunda no hamwe haruwanine kumafarama.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Apa wa pungire mupepo, yipepa ya tukere kuyitundo no kundarata.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Hanu nga haremananga kumakende gho kupayuka agha hamwayire hanu kehemu hakukuyuvera.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Diyuwa dimweya, pomba gha shayekire kupita meyu no gha kukutire. Mandini ghetu gha karire mukunguru.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Tate ghayendire tunda dimbo yenda dimbo ghatongwere hanu hakuyende kuthigongi.
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.
Hanu ha hungumanine muthitondo thothikuru no haterere.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Tate ghemanine no kughamba, “Twa nyanda kuruwana pofotji mukukoshonona maghukukutu ghetu.”
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 gho myaka kwokohatu, oyu gha hungumanine kuthitondo gha kugherire, “Kukona nighamwene kukenitha.”
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.”
Mbuyama ghofotji gha ghambire, “Hambuyama kukona tukupakerere tu kune yidya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Katughuru ghumwe ghemanine no kughamba, “Hatutughuru ṅanyi ha kuthime dithima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Twaheya twa kuyere no diywi dyofotji, “Twakona kutjindja ghukaro wetu.” Kutunda diyuwa di twa ruwanine pofotji mu kukoshonona maghukukutu ghetu.
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: Ruthgela Shawanga
