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Muhato
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Munzi wa luna neunani matata amañata hahulu. Nelupanganga mukoloko ulimuñwi womutelele wakuka mezi kwa pompi.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Nelulibelelanga lico ze filwe kuzwelela kubabañwi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Nelukiyanga mandu yaluna kabubebe bebe bakeñisa masholi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Bana babañata baitulezi sikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Basizani babanyinyani nebabelekanga misebezi ya mwa malapa kuba minzi yemiñwi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Bashimani babanyinyani neba yembana mwahae, babañwi nebabelekanga mwa masimu abatu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Moya aneufukanga, mapepa asinatuso nakolakatelanga kwa likota ni fa makwakwa a malapa.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Batu neba sehakiwanga ki mabotela a pwacakehile anayumbilwe kusina tokomelo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Cwale zazi leliñwi, pompi yaoma mi lingongolo zaluna nelili mukungulu.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Bo ndate baya lapa ni lapa kukupa batu kuli batahe kwa mukopano.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Batu bakopana mwa tasi a kota yetuna inge bateleza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Bondate bayema mi bali, “Luswanehela kubeleka hamoho kufeza matata aluna.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma wa lilimo zeketalizoho ni zetalu, yanainzi fa sishingwa ahuwa ali, “Nakona kutusa kwa kukenisa.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Alimuñwi musali ali, “Basali bakona kukopana nina kucala lico.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Alimuñwi muuna ayema mi ali, “Baana bakayepa lisima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Lwahuwa kaufela luna ka linzwi liliñwi luli; “Luswanela kucinca bupilo bwaluna.” Kuzwa zazi leo, nelubelekanga hamoho kufeza matata aluna.
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: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
SiLozi (Zambia)
Level 2
