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Kusala
Decision
Ukusalapo
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Chester Mwanza
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Munzi wangu wakajisi mapenzi manji. Meenda akali kukatazya kapati. Twakali kwiima milongo kutegwa tuteke meenda apompi yomwe.
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.
Twakali kulindila zyakulya zyacivwole-vwole kuzwa kubantu bambi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
Maanda akali kujalwa cakufwambaana akaambo kabantu babba.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
Bana banji bakaleka cikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Bana basimbi bakali kubeleka mumaanda abantu bambi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Bana basankwa bakali kuzinguluka biyo mumunzi, bamwi bakali kubelekela mali mumyuunda yabalimi.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Imuwo waunga, izyipepa zyakali kwaangila muzyisamu alimwi a lukwakwa
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
Bantu bakali kuyaswa amabbodela akapwaikide akaambo kakutazyisowa bweelede.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
Bumwi buzuba, meenda akaleka kuzwa. Zyipeelo zyesu zyakanyina meenda.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Bataata bakeenda mumaanda oonse kwaambila bantu kuti bakasike kumuswangano.
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.
Bantu bakaswaangana munsi acisamu cipati akuswiilila.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
Bataata bakaimikila akwaamba kuti, “Tweelede kubelekela antoomwe kutegwa tumane mapenzi aaya.”
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, imwana wamyaka ili lusele wakapozomoka kuti, “Inga ndagwasya kucibeela cakugusya dooti.”
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.”
Umwi mukaintu wakati, “Bamakaintu inga bandisangana mukusyanga zyakulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Mwaalumi umwi wakaimikila akuti “Bamaalumi balasya mugodi wameenda.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Twakoompolola toonse mujwi lyomwe, “Tweelede kucinca buumi bwesu.” Kuzwa buzuba oobo, twakatalika kubelekela antoomwe akujana nzila yakumana mapenzi eesu.
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: Chester Mwanza
