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Ukusalapo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Sandra Mulesu
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Mumushi wandi mwaliba amafya ayengi. Twali tantama mumulini pakuti twaingatapa amenshi kuli pompi imo.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Twalelolela ifyakulya ifyakupelwa ukufuma kumbi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twalekoma amayanda yesu bangwu ukutina bakabolala.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Abana abengi balilekele amasukulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Utukashana twalebomba incito ya bukaboi mumishi imbi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utulumenda twalepitana mumushi ninshi bambi balebombela mumabala.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Umwela ngawapupa, ifipepala fyalepululukila mufimuti and kwilinga.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Abantu baleicena kumabotolo yatomeka ayaleposwafye iciposwe poswe.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Bushiku bumo, pompi tayalebomba, ifipe fyesu tafyakwete menshi.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Batata baile cila ng’anda ukuwita abantu ukwisa sangwa kucilye camushi.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Abantu baishile ikala mwisamba lyamuti nokukutika.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Batata epakwima abati “Tufwile ukubombela pamo pakuti tupwishe ubu ubwafya bwesu.
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Umwana wamyaka cine konse konse uweshina lya Juma, uwaikele pamulando epakupunda ati, “kuti nayafwilishako ukupyanga no kuwamya”.
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Namyo umo asosa ati, “Bana mayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Shitata umbi aminina ati, “Bashitata kuti twaimba icishima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Bonse epakupunda mwishiwi limo ati, “kuti twapilibula imikalile yesu”. Ukufumafye bulyabushiku twalebombela pamo uku pwisha 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
