GIYA
MTHWAKAZI!
Ngithemba
lizikholisile izinkondlo elizibale kuviki elidlulileyo. Nansi imbongi entsha
yakuleli iviki etshiseka kakhulu ngokuloba izinkondlo eziphathelene lalokhu
okwenzakalayo kulezi izinsuku elizweni lethu. Ukutshelwa yikuncitshwa. Bala
uzizwele ukuthi uThabo Dube ugiya esithini. Singathaba ukuzwa ukuthi wena uthini
ngenkondlo kaThabo.
Thabo Dube in a poet’s regalia
KUNZIM'
EDOLOBHENI!
Yibuphenduphendu!
Iizwe selimi
ngamazwane,
Ophil’
ekhaya losedolobheni
Sokuyint'
efanayo nje bayisa.
Akusasetshenziswa
getsi edolobheni
Sokuthezw’
inkuni yeka
Iganga
selisele bhunyumu.
Isinkwa
asisabonwa,
Kuvukwa
ngeqebelengwane.
Akusagadwa
makhombi,
Sokugibelwa
uSihube loSiphosami.
Amanz'
ahamba njalonje,
Siyayigebha
imigodi, thul’ ubheke.
Imigwaqo
yonk’ emihle yezolo
Sokungamagodigodi
akhilikithelayo.
Igusu
okumele lilondolozwe njengemvelo,
Selicentwa
nsukuzonke,
Licentelwa
amabandl’ ahlukeneyo.
Akusakhonzwa
ngeqiniso,
Abantu
sebelanda izimanga
Batshelwa ngekusasa
labo bankeme.
Kabantshontshi
nje abafundisi,
Sebengotsotsi
abathi shi!
Yimdadada
izimota zimi,
Zifolel’
ukuzuz’ amafuth' abizayo.
Ama 2000
wona angikhulumi,
Awayaz’
imali eyiyo yakulelilizwe.
Alibonile i’bearer
cheque’,
Alibambe
ngezandla idola leMelika,
Zagcwala
zaqumba izikhwama
Ngamabhondi
asedliwe lubhedu.
Leyo-ke
eyayilomfanekiso woMvundla,
Laleyo
eyayilezakhiwo zeGreat Zimbabwe
Bayayazi na?
Ingaphi
yona?
Layo yadliwa
lubhedu.
Akusangenwa
ko-Edgars,
Sokuyiwa
eKhothama.
Bangene
bathin' abant' ezitolo?
Izinto
seziqans’ amaqaqa nsukuzonke?
Siyabuyela na
emabhetshwini lemisisini?
Thul’ uthi
zwi ubukele.
Sibhedile siyadida
lesisimo madoda!
Siyaphindela
sonk’ ekhaya kusal’ ingamula,
Yebo,
sobuyela siyegiya ngoludala,
Sincinde
sandwayi ngenopi,ledobi lomvundla.
Ngob'
edolobheni akuphileki,
Sisel'
egcekeni njengempabanga yexhegu,
Konke
kusegcekeni,
Lebhetshu
liseceleni bo.
Lungisa
Khulu!
Akulungiswe
konke bo
Usapho
luphile he!
ngu Thabo
Dube
AMASU AMQOKA EKULOBENI INOVELI
Dr. Eventhough Ndlovu
Ngivumeleni
ngivule inkundla ngokwethula amasu amqoka kubalobi abasacathula, lalabo
asebezenzele igama. Yiwo la awokuqala okumele sizidle ngawo lapho sijulisa
imicabango simisa ukuthi sizinikele ekulobeni imisebenzi yokuzibumbela.
1. Okokuqala
njalo okumqoka yikuthi, njengomlobi uzibuze imibuzo ebalulekileyo ethi:
a) Ngibhalela
bani? Siphi isigaba sabantu - Abantwana? Abatsha? Abadala? Izakhamizi jikelele?
b) Ngijongeni?
Iyini injongo ophezu kwayo?
c) Kuyini
okungivuse usinga lokuloba?
2. Zibuze
njalo ukuthi zizakuthini izingcitshi ezizabala umsebenzi wakho, njalo
zikhangeleleni kubalobi ababhala imibhalo yokuzibumbela. Ngizagxila kabanzi
kudaba lokuthi kuyini okukhangelelwe ngabacubunguli bemibhalo yokuzibumbela
lapho becubungula imibhalo le. Mlobi, kumqoka ukuthi ulimuke ukuthi awubhaleli
ukuzilibazisa lokukholisisa nje. Kunengi okwetheswa njengomthwalo emahlombe
akho. Izingcitshi ezicubungula imibhalo yokuzibumbela ziqinisa ukuthi imibhalo
yokuzibumbela kumele ibe lendima enkulu ezimpilweni zabantu njengoba ibukeza
impilo njalo ijonge ukuqondisa lokufunzelela impilo. Ingcwethi ezibalisela
uChinua Achebe emibhalweni yakhe egoqela ethi: Hopes and Impediments, Morning
Yet on Creation Day loNgugi wa Thiongo kuBarrel of a Pen, Writers in
Politics: A re-engagement with issues of Literature and Society, Moving the Centre loDecolonising the Mind,
loFlora Veit Wild kuTeachers, Preachers and Non-believers: A
Social History of Zimbabwean Literature lo-Okot P’Bitek ku-Artist the Ruler: Essays on Art and Culture loNdlovu-Matshakayile
ku-Ukuhluzwa Kwamanoveli EsiNdebele;
zikubeka sobala ukuthi umqondo wokubhala ngenjongo yokuzibhalela nje awulandawo
kwele-Afrika. Ingcwethi lezi zithi umlobi ukhangelelwe ukuthi abe lendima
enkulu ekubeni: ngumlomo, abe lilihlo
lezindlebe zikazulu. Ingcwethi lezi ziqinisa ukuthi umlobi uyafundisa, aluleke,
axwayise, alimukise, akhuze, agoqe njalo afundise. Ngalokho-ke, nginxusa ukuthi
kesiziphe isikhathi kule iviki sifunde lezi zingwalo nxa singazithola, sizwe
ukuthi milandu bani esilayo njengabalobi.
Kusigaba
esilandelayo, ngizakwehlukanisa umgogodla lamathambo, ngihlube indlubu ekhasini
ngalolu udaba. Asehlukane udobha lezi zingwalo uzibalela, lokhu elokuzwa
lingasuthisi.
(Umlobi
nguDr Eventhough Ndlovu onguSenior Lecturer lomkhulu weDepartment ye-African
Languages leLiterature e-University yeZimbabwe)
UMUSA
WANSUKU ZONKE
Nanku umusa wansuku zonke wakuleli iviki.
UJesu Walingwa Wanqoba
Siphila emhlabeni ohlabayo. Ugcwele
izinhlungu ezesabekayo. Siphila phakathi kwezilingo ezidalwa yikuswela, ukufelwa,
ukugulelwa, ukudubeka, ubuhlungu bokwahlukana emulini, lobuhlungu bokuxotshwa
emsebenzini, lobuhlungu bokwahluleka ukugcina imuli. Nxa umuntu esehlaselwe
laloba yisiphi isilingo, umuzwa esithi, “Lesi
isilingo ngesami ngedwa.” Aphumisele athi, “INkosi ingihlekile”, loba athi, “INkosi ingifulathele.” UNkulunkulu kahleki muntu, kafulatheli
muntu. UJesu Khristu, iNkosi loMsindisi wethu, laye walingwa.
IziNcwadi ezimbili ezilandisa ngempilo
yonke kaJesu; uMathewu, loLukha, ziyabalula kabanzi ngokulingwa kwakhe,
kuzahluko zesine. Siyatshelwa ukuthi UJesu wabhaphathizwa, uNkulunkulu uYise
wamncoma ngokuba yiNdodana ayithandayo, athokoza ngayo. Besesitshelwa ukuthi
uJesu egcwele uMoya oNgcwele, wamqhuba uMoya emusa enkangala lapho alingwa
khona. Wayelapho engadli okwezinsuku ezingamatshumi amane. Ngemva
kwalezozinsuku, wayeselambile kakhulu. Sivamile ukuthi umuntu athi edlile
ekuseni lemini uzwe ntambama esesithi, “Sengifile
yindlala!” Yebo-na?
Owayelinga uJesu nguSathani, inyoka
enkulu, umkhohlisi, iqili lamaqili, usomangase – uyise wawo amanga, umoya
omubi! Ngicela Mhlobo wami uzibalele indaba yokulingwa kukaJesu kuMathewu 4,
loba kuLukha 4. Kodwa, nanzi izilingo uSathani azethula phambi kukaJesu:
1.
“Uma
uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu tshela amatshe la abe yisinkwa.” UJesu wathi,
“Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Umuntu kaphili ngesinkwa kuphela, kodwa ngelizwi lonke
eliphuma emlonyeni kaNkulunkulu.”
2.
Omubi wamusa esiqongweni seThempeli
wasesithi: “Uma uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu,
ziphosele phansi ngoba kuzalaywa izingelosi zikugame ukuze ungalimali.”
UJesu waphendula wathi, “UMbhalo oNgcwele
uthi: ‘Ungayilingi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.’”
3.
Omubi wasemusa entabeni ephakemeyo
wamtshengisa imibuso yomhlaba lobukhazikhazi bonke wasesithi: “Ngizakunika konke lokhu ungakhothama
ungikhonze.” UJesu waphendula wathi, “Suka
kimi, Sathane! UMbhalo oNgcwele uthi, ‘Khonza iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho, ukhonze
yena yedwa.”
Huuuu! USathani mubi! Ulophikelelo
olubi! EMbhalweni kaLukha siyatshelwa ukuba uSathane wamtshiya okwesikhatshana,
kuze kuzuzakale elinye ithuba lokumlinga. Mhlobo wami, ungantshungubala
esilingweni, ungathabi wedlulise amalawulo usithi iqili lamaqili leli
seliqedile ngawe. Limuka, liyeza njalo ngolaka.
USathane usinyonyobela azame
ukusidiliza ngezikhathi sibuthakathaka emoyeni lemzimbeni. Sigulelwa,
besesigijimele ezinyangeni lakulaba abakhohlisa ngamanzi, lakubaphorofethi
bamanga. Ngomubi esihlasela. Amehlo ethu lezinhliziyo zethu zilangazelele
izinto ezingasizethu. Sihawukele. Sintshontshe. Ngomubi etshotshozela? Sithi singaphumelela siphaphe emayezini.
Ubuminamina bubuse. Ngumoya omubi oyabe evuthela.
Mzalwane, UJESU WALINGWA, WANQOBA!
Wayemkhomba eMbhalweni omubi. Wayesithi, “UMbhalo uthi…”, “Kulotshiwe…”.
UMbhalo uyasipha indlela yokuphunyuka emjibileni yomubi. Wena-ke, uthini nxa
umlingi ekulinga? Dlana ilizwi nsuku zonke, uphunyuke, unqobe.
Asithandaze: Moya kaBaba uNkulunkulu, ngisiza ngidle ilizwi insuku
zonke ukuze lidle isono. Amen.
Barbara Nkala
STORIES OF FAITH
Portia Ngwenya
Today we present our very first story of faith. We would appreciate hearing how it impacts you.
Godsent Vibes
In my walk with the Lord, I have seen His hand
numerous times as I trusted Him.
A classic case is that of 2008, when Zimbabwe
experienced hyperinflation and went through an awful economic meltdown. I was
in my final year at the University of Zimbabwe and was looking forward to
finishing my degree. As the zeros multiplied on our bearer cheques (the
currency at the time), the rentals also escalated rapidly until I couldn't
afford the dues. I left decent lodgings and went ‘squatting’ in a disused
building that was awaiting renovations, with my sister-friend.
The supposed ‘good Samaritan’ told us the dos and
don’ts.
“Listen guys, you can’t be seen in these premises
during the day. Stay out! Return when it’s dark! And, keep your bags packed -
in case you have to flee!”
That sounded like bed and breakfast style except there
was no breakfast there. So, daily after lectures at the College of Health
Sciences at Parirenyatwa Hospital, I would read in the library or walk into
town and window shop until sunset. I took comfort in my favourite Scripture: “Trust
in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5,6
(NIV).
One day as I walked from school to town, who did I
bump into? My cousin Linda who I had last seen in 2005. Boy! Were we glad to meet! She invited me to
her house.
“Porsh, you are a godsend mzala! I’m off to America soon, and I desperately
need someone to take care of my flat while I’m gone. I’ll stock up the fridge.
How is that?”
Wow! Were my ears hearing right? Who was a godsend? My
heart sang and danced. I could not wait to share the news with my friend.
Meanwhile, she had been agonising about how to break some bad news, that she
and another friend had found a flat to rent in the Avenues. She worried that I
could not afford the rentals. We shared our good news and thanked God for
providence. The news brought relief to my parents too.
The University at that point announced that anyone
sitting for the examinations had to pay at least USD$100. My parents could not
secure those funds. They worked hard to support us, but it was tough for them.
I had a brother doing ‘O’ Levels who also needed exam fees.
One night, I joined some Church ladies going to
Bindura mountain for prayers. My one prayer request was for US$100 so I could
pay and sit for my exams. At that time, I had switched from Yahoo-mail to
Gmail. So, I hardly checked my Yahoo emails. That week I just checked my Yahoo
mail. There were emails from a friend who lives in Poland who had been sending
messages to check on me. I responded, telling her my fees crisis. She quickly
asked how much I needed. The very next week she sent me a MoneyGram message.
I could not believe I was a recipient of a US$100
bill! Joy bubbled in my heart! The accommodation prayer was answered. Prayer
for fees had just been answered. I could not stop praising and thanking God!
While I rejoiced, a thought suddenly popped into my head. My little brother
needed fees too. He had also requested to use my calculator. It did not take me
long to make a decision. Off went the US$100 bill to my brother, and the
calculator I also needed for my own examinations. That, despite my mother
protesting that I should settle my own fees. I was at peace with my decision.
When my friend checked on me, I thanked her profusely
for the money and confessed that I had passed the funds to my needy brother
instead. When she read the message, she sent another US$150. Wow! Did God love
only me, I wondered! I praised the Lord and sat for my examinations. Both my
brother and I passed well. My brother had 9As and I got an upper second class.
Coincidence? Or God’s amazing grace? Or quite simply
‘God-sent vibes’?
He IS a God who keeps on doing great things as we
trust in Him!
(Portia Ngwenya is
married with two boys. She is a Medical laboratory scientist at CIMAS Medical labs.
She graduated with an Honours degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences and has
just achieved a Masters, in Medical Microbiology)
This is all for today beloved. Look out
for our second story of faith in two week’s time. If you feel a prompting to do
a story of faith, in English, Ndebele or Shona, do not hesitate. A child of God
will benefit from your encouragement in the Lord.
Sesikhangele iviki elizayo ngokubonga.
Ukhona umusa wansuku zonke kumaviki onke. Asikhuthazane kuyole inkundla
sifudumale sibunine ububi obusihanqileyo.
Lezimbongi zikaMthwakazi ziza lazo izinkondlo.
Woz’ ubukele ukugiya kwazo ngolimi uncinde. Funda, ukholise, uqumbaqumbeke lawe
wenze.
Ngiyalithanda.
Gogo Nkala
