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Ukusalapo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Sandra Mulesu
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Mu mushi wandi mwali amafya ayengi. Twalitantame umulongo pakuti twingatapa ameenshi kuli pompi umo.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda mu mishi imbi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utulumenda twaleyangala mu mushi ninshi bambi baleebombela mu mabala.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Umwela nga wapuupa, ifipepala bapoosa fyalesama ku miti na ku malinga.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Abantu baleicena ku mabotolo ayatobeka ayaleeposwa iciposweposwe.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ubushiku bumo, ameenshi yapwa kupompi ne fipe fyesu tafyakwete ameenshi.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Bataata baile cila ŋanda mukuwita abantu ukwisasangwa ku cilye ca mushi.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Abantu baishileikala mwisamba lya muti no kukutika.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Bataata epakwima abati, “Tufwile ukubombela pamo pakuti tupwishe amafya yesu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Umwana wamyaka cine-konse-konse uweshina lya Juma, uwaikele pa mulando abilikisha ati, “Kuti nabombako umulimo wa kuwamya.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Namaayo umo ati, “Banamaayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Shitaata umbi aiminina ati, “Bashitaata bakemba icishima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Bonse twapundila pamo atuti, “Tufwile ukwalula imikalile yesu.” Ukufuma bulya bushiku twabombele pamo mukupwisha amafya yesu.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Sandra Mulesu
