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Isigqibo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Bukiwe Tiyane
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Ilali yam yayineengxaki eziniinzi. Sasisenza umgca omde siyokukha amanzi etephini enye.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Sasilinda ukutya esikuphiwa ngabanye.
We waited for food donated by others.
Sasizitshixa kwangethuba izindlu zethu ngenxa yamasela.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Abantwana abaninzi basiyeka isikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Amantombazana ayesebenza njengezicakakazi kwezinye iilali.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Amakhwenkwe ayezulazula elalini ngelixa abanye besebenza kwiifama zabantu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Xa umoya uvuthuza, amaphepha alahliweyo ayehlala emithini nasemacingweni.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Abantu babesikwa ziiglasi ezophukileyo ezalahlwa ngokungakhathali.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ngenye imini, ithephu yoma nko kwaye izikhongozeli zethu zazingenanto.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Utata wam wahamba umzi nomzi ecela abantu baye entlanganisweni yelali.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Abantu badibana phantsi komthi omkhulu bamamela.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Utata wam waphakama wathi, “Kufuneka sisebenzisane ukusombulula iingxaki zethu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
UJuma oneminyaka esibhozo ubudala, ehleli esiqobeni somthi wakhwaza wathi, “Ndingancedisa ekucoceni”.
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Elinye ibhinqa lathi, “Amabhinqa angangena kum silime ukutya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Enye indoda yaphakama yathi, “Amadoda aza kwemba iqula.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Sakhwaza sonke ngelizwi elinye, “Kumele sitshintshe ubomi bethu.” Ukusukela ngaloo mini sasebenzisana ukusombulula iingxaki zethu.
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: Bukiwe Tiyane
