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Ganizo
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
David Sani Mwanza
Christine Mwanza
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Mudzi wanga unali ndi mabvuto ambiri. Timaima m’mzere wautali umodzi kutunga madzi pa pompi imodzi.
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.
Tinayembekezera zakudya zoperekedwa ndi ena.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Tinakhoma manyumba athu mwamsanga cifukwa coopa akawalala.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Ana ambiri analeka sukulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Atsikana ang’ono ang’ono anasewenza maganyu m’midzi ina.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Anyamata ang’ono ang’ono anali kuyendayenda m’midzi ina ndipo ena anali kuchita ganyu m’minda ya ena.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Pamene mphepo ikuntha, mapepala opanda nchito anapacikikairpa mitengo ndi mipanda.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Anthu anacekedwa ndi magalasi oonongeka amane anataidwa mosasamala.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Ndipo tsiku lina, pompi inauma ndipo migomo yathu inalibe madzi .
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Atate anga anayenda khomo ndi khomo kupempha anthu kuti apite ku msonkhano wa m’mudzi.
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.
Anthu anasonkhana pansi pa mtengo ukulu ndipo anamvesera.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Atate anga anaima nati, “Tifunika kusewenzera pamozi kuti tithetse mabvuto athu.”
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 zaka zisanu ndi zitatu, omwe anakhala pa nthambi ya mtengo anakuwa nati “Ndingathandize ndi kusesa.”
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.”
Mai m’mozi anati “azimai angasewenze pamozi ndi ine kuti tirime zakudya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Bambo wina anaimirira nati “Amuna azakumba citsime.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Tonse tinakuwa ndi mau amozi ndikuti, “tifunika kusintha myoyo yathu.” Kucoka pa tsiku lija, tinasewenzera pamozi kuthetsa mabvuto athu.
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: David Sani Mwanza
Read by: Christine Mwanza
