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Kusakula
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Masho Kaloza
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Limbo lyami lyapwile namaukalu amavulu. Kuswita meya kuvanga kwimana mumukana wausuku kumuyengo umwe.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Twavandaminyinenga kulya chakutukafwa kuvakwetu.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twakiyilenga mazuvo etu washi kuchinyisa veji.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Vanyike vavavulu vechele shikola.
Many children dropped out of school.
Vanyike vamaphwevo vazachilenga ungamba mumembo akwavo.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Vanyike vamalunga vakimbilenga mumembo shimbu vakwavo vazachililenga mumande avathu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Omu peho yahuhwile yapekumwinenga mapepa aze asakaminenga hamafwo nahajimbango nahamalapa avathu.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Vathu valilemekelenga navivanjilo vyakupazwojoka evi kavambililenga kanawako.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Jino likumbi limwe, mupombi womine kaha jisuhwa jetu jasalile jamupolongwa.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Tata ahichishilemo mutambi, zuvo hizuvo mangana vathu valikungulule nakushimutwila.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Vathu valikungulwile mwishi yamutondo nakwivwilila.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Tata emanyine nakukhokweza vathu, “Twatela tuzachile hamwe mangana tuhase kukumisa maukalu etu mwimbo.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Kanyike Ndumba wamyaka yakusemuka itanu-nayitatu, oku natwame hamungowa atambakanyine, “Ami ngunahase kuzata mulimo wakukomba.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Phwevo umwe ahanjikile ngwenyi, “Maphwevo vanahase kulinunga nayami nakulima vyakulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Lunga mukwavo emanyine nakuhanjika ngwenyi, “Malunga navafula lishima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Vosena twatambakanyine nalizu limwe, “Twatela kwalumuna chiyoyelo chetu.” Kufuma lize likumbi twazachile hamwe nakukumisa maukalu etu.
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: Masho Kaloza
