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Ganizo
Decision
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.
Tinayembekezera zakudya zoperekedwa ndi ena.
We waited for food donated by others.
Tinakhoma manyumba athu mwamsanga cifukwa coopa akawalala.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Ana ambiri analeka sukulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Atsikana ang’ono ang’ono anasewenza maganyu m’midzi ina.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
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.
Pamene mphepo ikuntha, mapepala opanda nchito anapacikikairpa mitengo ndi mipanda.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Anthu anacekedwa ndi magalasi oonongeka amane anataidwa mosasamala.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ndipo tsiku lina, pompi inauma ndipo migomo yathu inalibe madzi .
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
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.
Anthu anasonkhana pansi pa mtengo ukulu ndipo anamvesera.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
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.”
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.”
Mai m’mozi anati “azimai angasewenze pamozi ndi ine kuti tirime zakudya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Bambo wina anaimirira nati “Amuna azakumba citsime.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
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.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: David Sani Mwanza
Read by: Christine Mwanza
