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Ganizo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
David Sani Mwanza
Christine Mwanza
The audio for this story is currently not available.
Mudzi wanga unali ndi mavuto ambiri. Tinapanga mnyolo omozi kufuna kutunga madzi.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Tinayembekezera zakudya zopasiwa ndi ena.
We waited for food donated by others.
Tinakhoma manyumba anthu mwamsanga chifukwa choopa akawalala.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Ana ambiri analeka sukulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Atsikana anasewenza maganyu m’midzi ina.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Anyamata anali kuyendayenda mumidzi 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 yakuntha, mapepala opanda nchito anakhalila pa mitengo ndi mipanda.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Anthu anadulidwa ndi magalasi oonongeka amane anataidwa mosasamala.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ndipo tsiku lina, pompi inauma ndipo madzi anatha.
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 tithese mavuto athu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Wa zaka zisanu ndi zitatu, Juma, omwe anakhala ma nthambi ya mtengo anakuwa nati “Ndingathandize ndi kusesa”.
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Mzimai umozi anati “azimai angasewenze pamozi ndi ine kuti tibyale zakudya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Bambo wina anaimilila nati “Amuna azakumba chisime.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Tonse tinakuwa ndi mau amozi ndikuti, ” tifunika kusintha myoyo yathu.” Kuchoka pa tsiku lija, tinasewenzera pamozi kuthesa mavuto 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
