Gogo Nkala Newsletter No 15

Gogo Nkala

Ngiyabingelela Mthwakaz’ omuhle!

Kuleli iviki elidlulileyo ngibukele usapho lukaMthwakazi lutshikatshika sengathi lusemgidweni wesizingelezi. Ibe ikade ihlakalezekile imibiko emnandi eminengi ebika imisebenzi, kuthiwa uzulu kafike endaweni thile azozama laye ukuthola umsebenzi. Bekumenywa abatsha abafuna ukungena kubongikazi kunye lekufundeleni ububalisi. Sibukele lathi silethemba begijima abantwana beNkosi, behamba ngethemba elikhulu elithi lamhla lami ngizathola okungcono okuzangisiza empilweni. Nkwe! Ithutshe buthumuthumu imibiko njalo isithi obe kubikiwe kungamanga. Bahambele idonki ebolileyo abantwabethu.

Kungani? Kungani othile loba abathile bebona kungumdlalo obakitazayo ukubona abanye abantu behawula? Ngubani odlala ngabantwana beNkosi bona bevele bezihluphekela? Abanengi basuka bebolekile izimali zokuyafika lapho okumenywa khona, ngoba besithi akwaziwa okwanonisa ingulube. Yizimali abangalazo, okunzima lokuthi bazibuyisele. Bathwele luklubhu, babuye badliswe imbuya ngoluthi. Bafundile labo. Bapasa kuhle kakhulu. Kodwa sebegijime lapha lalaphaya inyawo sezize zingena eziswini. Bakhuluma usizi lodwa. Bathi koze kube nini?

Lami uGogo wabo umoya wami uthukuthele lamhla. Ngubani lo obika imibiko engamanga ehlukuluza usapho lukaMthwakazi? Omunye umhlabeleli uthi, “Abanye bathemba izinqola zempi, abanye bathemba amabhiza, kodwa thina sithemba ibizo likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu” iHubo 20:7.

Luthini usapho lukaMthwakazi ngalokhu kuhlukuluzeka? Zithini imbongi ngalo umumo? Giya ngeyakho imibono lemizwa asizakale uMthwakazi.

GIYA MBONGI KAMTHWAKAZI

Sesike sahlangana loSithembile Siqhoza. OkaSiqhoza yimbongo eyaziwayo kakhulu. Uleqoqo lezinkondlo elakhutshwa ngo 2017 elithi, IBHODO LEZINKONDLO. Ludinge kuye lolugwalo ukholise ugiye laye ngokwehlukeneyo empilweni. Uvamile ukukhuza esithi, ‘Zingizwan’ izinja’. Sibelaye ekuqaliseni ngqo esithi, ‘Duba Langithola Sengaguga’.

Ake sizwe ukuthi ugiya esithini lamhla nxa ethi, ‘Le Ndlela’.

Sithembile Siqhoza

LE NDLELA

Zaphalal’ inyembezi

Ngangathuliswa muntu.

Ngesul’ izithukuthuku zijuluka

Ngijule ngengqondo

Ngiyathuthumela

Ngiyesaba lendlel’ esihamba ngayo

Yiyo yiy’ ayikhw’ enye!

Noma nginyathela kancane

Ngizilazil’ ukuyiphutsha

Noma sengintantalaza

Angiphambuki ngoba ngisendleleni.

Abayihambayo

Bayihamb’ unomphela

Phel’ iya kwelingabuywayo

Ngumthuthakhaya le indlela

Iyangesabisa mina.

Ngingaze ngindiz’ emoyeni

Ngingen’ emayezini

Ngiba lesiyezi

Ngingasazi ngiyingene lindlela.

Akula ‘Ng’melela ngisagqoka!’

Akula ‘Sihambisane mntanami’

Ngedwana ngiyiwela ngingelamphelekezeli

Abangiphelekezelayo baphelelwa ngamandla.

Behamb’ ibanganyana.

Bangivalelise ngenhlabathi

Ngitsho losan’ olulenkaba

Luyayazi lendlela

Okhulu labogogo

Balahl’ udondolo,

Beyiphumputh’indlela.

Lendlela yimpicabadala

Oyihambay’ uyaphiceka

Phinde ulayezele kwabaseleyo

‘Wahamba njani?’

Vel’ othatha lendlela kavalelisi.

Inde lendlela

Imazombezombe

Ilamakhilikithi lamagodigodi

Phambili bath’ imbaxa mbili

Enye incinyane

Ihamb’ ihlekana labantu

Enye bathi lugubhule

Ilomhlambi wabantu.

Besesiqhaqhazela

Mina ngizokhetha yiphi?

Le encinyan’ indlela

Bath’ iyekhay’ elihle

Okulokuthula lenjabulo

Ley’ engumgwaqo

Bath’ ikufikisa laph’okulokukhala

Lokugedla kwamazinyo.

Iyaqwaqwaz’ induna yakhona

Ikuphos’ emlilweni.

Lam’ angazi lutho

Ngalendlela

Kodwa ngizahamba ngayo

Mhla ngitshiya l’ umhlaba

Ngithathe lendlel’ engingayaziyo

Indlel’ ehanjwa ngabathuleyo.

Sithembile Siqhoza

Zingizwanizinja

 (Mobile 0714159098)

AMASU AMQOKA EMBONGI EZISACATHULA LESEZIZENZELE IGAMA

 Dr Eventhough Ndlovu

Indlela Yokusebenzisa Ulimi Ekulobeni Inkondlo

Sesihlangane kuliviki lapho esikhukhuza khona udaba lolimi okumele ulusebenzise ekulobeni kwakho inkondlo. Kuqakathekile ukuthi njengembongi ube lekhono, ubungcitshi lobugabazi ekusebenziseni ulimi. Indaba yokusetshenziswa kolimi imqoka nxa sikhangelane lokulotshwa kwenkondlo ngoba indlela ulimi olusetshenziswa ngayo yiyo eyenza inkondlo iphawuleke kweminye imibhalo yokuzibumbela. Ulimi ngolunye uphawu olumqoka oluveza ukwenelisa lokuphumelela kwembongi ekulobeni. Ekuhlaziyeni lekucubunguleni inkondlo kukhangelwa indlela imbongi ephumelele ngayo ukusebenzisa ulimi ukwethula indikimba, inhloso lokuveza imizwa yayo.

Njengalokhu ngaveza kuhlandla lakuqala, imbongi ilomlandu wokufundisa ulimi oluyilo. Iyisiphala lomthombo wolwazi ngolimi oluqondileyo. Kumele inkondlo ilotshwe ngesiNdebele esiqondileyo. Kumele imbongi ilandele indlela yokubhalwa kwesiNdebele emisiweyo. Kumele yehlukanise kuhle amabala, yeqe loba ilumbanise onkamisa ngendlela lapho okumele kwenziwe lokhu khona, njalo ibambanise kuhle amabala. Kumele ilimuke ukuthi olimini lwesiNdebele, onkamisa abalandelani. Kuyazila lokhu. Bangalandelana, bangalumbana, kweqiwe omunye, kudaleke unsingankamisa ofaneleyo loba sibehlukanise ngehayifeni. Indaba yokweqiwa lokulumbana kwabonkamisa imqoka ekulobeni inkondlo ukuze inkondlo ibaleke kuhle. Kumele imbongi isebenzise kuhle impawu zokuloba zonke. Njengomzekeliso kulo umzila, Bhid’ elimnyama; Nkunz’ emanxebanxeba. (Bala ugwalo Ukuhlaziya lokucubungula Izinkondlo)

Kufanele imbongi ixwaye ukukiliza ulimi ekulobeni kwayo, ngaphandle kwanxa lokhu kusenziwa ngabomo ngenjongo yokuveza ukwehluleka ukukhuluma isiNdebele esiqondileyo. Imbongi ikhangelelwe ukuthi itshengise ubugabazi lobungcitshi bayo ngolimi. Lokhu ingakwenza ngokunonisa, lokuhlobisa, lokubukeza umsebenzi wayo ngencezu zenkulumo ezimiselwe lokhu, ezifana lezifenqo zenkulumo ezibalisela ihaba, inhlonipho, isingathekiso, ukwenzasamuntu, isiqathaniso lokubhuqa. (Ziphe isikhathi ubale ngalezi izifenqo zenkulumo, ikakhulu kugwalo Ukuhlaziya lokucubungula Izinkondlo le-Ihawu labafundu 3 lo4 logwalo, Sithini IsiNdebele). Imizekeliso yalezi izifenqo zenkulumo ibalisela elandelayo:

1.                   Ihaba: Umkakhe mude uthinta emayezeni. Ububi bakhe buhlekisa isela

              licatshile. Usenga lezimithiyo. Ulambe ufile.

2.                  Isingathekiso: Yinyoka, emsebenzini lo.

3.                  Isifananiso: Udlela egilweni okwenyoni/sanyoni/njengenyoni.

4.                  Ukubhuqa: Kamuhle nje yimpisi.

5.                  Ukwenzasamuntu: Ngiyakwesaba mankunzane ndoda egwaza
              iqethukile.

6.                  Isiqathaniso: Akagijimi uyaphapha, Kabunathi-nje uKhumalo 
               uyabuthela.

7.                  Inhlonipho: Izulu liyakhwaza. Amaqhaw’ alel’ emaguswini.

Imbongi ilakho njalo ukulujiyisa iluhlobise ulimi ngezaga lezitsho kanye lamazwi ahlakaniphileyo. Incezu zenkulumo ezifana lemifanekiso, lezenzukuthi zidlala ingxenye enkulu ekwakheni umfanekiso wengqondo lokuqubula imizwa eyiyonayona kulo obalayo, akubone ngawakhe, kuphile kuye lokho okwethulwa yimbongi. Kuqakathekile ukuthi imbongi isebenzise ulimi oluzakwenza udaba lenhloso yayo iphume sobala njalo luqubule imizwa okujongwe ukuthi igabhele obalayo.

Izibonelo sokusebenzisa umfanekiso: Inhliziyo yami igaya izibozi. Inhliziyo yami igobhoza uthando.

Izibonelo zezenzukuthi: Usuthi nti okwesihlobo somfazi, Kumnyama tshu phandle.

Ukuziphindaphinda emutshweni, kuyayinonisa indaba kuwakhe lomfanekiso wengqondo walokho okwenzakalayo, njengokuthi, Waphonguthi qhwaya qhwayi watshiya engacentanga okuzwayo. Kasigcwalisanga isiganu uFanyana, umane wathi sengi sengi wakhawula.

Kumele ulimi lwenze indikimba yenkondlo yehle ngomgogohla kuthi obalayo akhangeke, adlele, athatheke ngolimi lwayo kumalele ukuthi abeke iphika phansi engakayithutshi inkondlo. Limuka ukuthi indlela osebenzisa ngayo ulimi kumele ifundise abazafunda inkondlo yakho. Kumele ibe yindlela yokugabaza ngolimi. Bona ukuthi ulimi olusebenzisayo luhlaba lo obalayo umxhwele, lumqumbaqumbe lapho okudingeka khona, njalo lumdangalise, agcwale usizi lesithuli, zeqe umbombo lapho okudingeka khona. Konke lokhu, ukwenza nje ngobugabazi ngolimi langendlela osebenzisa ngayo ulimi.

Kulusizi ukuthi inengi lembongi zalamuhla azisalwazi ulimi. Inengi lembongi zalamuhla sezilukiliza njalo kazikwazi ukugabaza ngalo.

Sekukhona futhi lomkhuba wokusebenzisa inhlamba lamagama angahloniphisiyo, athi bhadla, azilayo ukuwatsho emphakathini. Akuqondanga lokhu ngoba ulimi olunjalo luzasixhwalisela inzalo kaMatshobane, lusonele yona. Nxa ungafunda inkondlo zembongi zezolo uzananzelela ukuthi beziphatha indaba ezibucayi, kodwa bezisebenzisa ubungcitshi lobugabazi bazo ngolimi zigcwigcwize, kodwa zigeqa amagula, zihlube indlubu ekhasini, zimkhuze lo osetshaya amabatha athinteke, angene athophela kuye amazwi embongi, kuthi lo osehamba ngonyawo olungayisilo athathe unyawo olutsha, angene emfolweni okwenkabi ethelwe olesawudo. Thina njengamaNdebele siyakhetha amabala. Asiphongukhihliza nje ingqe yiliphi elifike emkhumbulweni wethu. Siyagcwigcwiza, sigudle iguma, sizekelise, kodwa siqeda ngawe. Sisebenzisa amabala ahloniphayo, kodwa udaba lombiko kuzwakala, singatshayi inja sifihla umphini. Njengesibonelo, nxa sikhuza umuntu osexhwale wedlulisa ebantwaneni bakhe esesembatha labo sithi ngaye, Uthango ludla amakhomane, loba Inkukhu inatha amaqanda ayo.

Asehlukane udobha amaqoqo aqukethe izibongo zamakhosi uzibalele ufunde kumbongi zezolo ngendlela yokusebenzisa ulimi. Asihlangane kuviki ezayo lapho esizaphatha khona ngezinto ezimqoka ezikhangelwayo lapho kucutshungulwa lokuhlaziya inkondlo. Lezi yizinto okumele ubone ukuthi ekulobeni kwakho uyazikhangelisisa ubone ukuthi uziphatha ngendlela esuthisayo eveza ukwenelisa lobungcwethi bakho njengembongi.

Umlobi nguDr Eventhough Ndlovu ongumbalisi lomkhulu weDepartment of African Languages and Literature e-University yeZimbabwe.

UMUSA WANSUKU ZONKE

Izithelo Ezinhle Empilweni

Emuzini wami kulezihlahla ezinengi zamagwaba. Kudala ezinye zazo  zazithela izithelo ezibolayo, kodwa ezimbili zazithela izithelo ezinhle. Sasiwakha amagwaba siwadle sikholise, loba siwaphale izikhumba zaphandle siwawolele embizeni, sithi chatha itshukela loba inyosi, siwapheke. Besesiwadla sincinde iminwe.

Kwasekufika isikhathi lapho izihlahla ezahlaselwa ngumkhuhlane. Sazama ukufafaza umuthi wokwelapha, kodwa akusizanga. Lalezizihlahla ezazilezithelo ezidlekayo ezazingaboli, lazo zaqala ukuba lezibozi. Wawuthola-ke ezikhithikela wodwa phansi amagwaba ngoba esehlaselwe yizibungu eziwadlayo acine ebola ephihlika. Ayabuthwa izinsuku zonke agcwale ibhara ayelahlelwa egodini. Awalungelanga ukudliwa. Awu, yikumotshakala okunganani lokhu!

Empilweni esiyiphilayo zikhona izithelo esizithelayo ngezenzo zethu ezinhle loba ezimbi. Kukhona ukulwa emoyeni. UMphostoli uPhawuli uyasixwayisa ngezenzo ezimbi ezivela ekuthokoziseni izinkanuko zethu zemvelo elesono. Uyabalisa eNcwadini yabaseGalathiya 5:19-21 ngezenzo ezidala ubufebe, lokungesabi ukujeziswa, lokuxhwala, ukukhonza izithombe lobuthakathi; inzondo, lokuxabana, lomona, lentukuthelo, lobuhwaba, lokungezwani, lokungavumelani Kanye lomhawu; ukudakwa, lokuzitika ngamanyala kanye lokunye okunjalo. Uthi lezi izenzo zibangelwa yizinkanuko zemvelo elesono. Kusuka nje umuntu abe lezenzo ezibolileyo, eziphihlika njengezibozi zamagwaba. Usuka abe yisinengiso kuNkulunkulu onjalo.

Kodwa, nxa singasebenzisi okwethu ukuqedisisa lokuhlakanipha, silawulwa njalo sikhokhelwa nguMoya ONgcwele, Yena uyasipha amandla okunqoba izinkanuko zemvelo. Izithelo ezinhle empilweni zivela ekuphileni ngokulalela uMoya ONgcwele ekhuluma kithi esikhokhela, esiqondisa. Siyaluswela usizo luka Moya ONgcwele. Nxa silandela ukuqondisa kwakhe sivela nje sithele izithelo zikaMoya, siphile impilo efuze ekaJesu Khristu, esingabalandeli bakhe.

UMphostoli uPhawuli uyazibalisa lezo zithelo zikaMoya. Uyasitshela kwabaseGalathiya 5:22-23 ukuthi izithelo zikaMoya ONgcwele luthando, lokuthokoza, lokuthula, lokubekezela, lomusa, lokulunga, lokuthembeka, lobumnene kanye lokuzithiba. Lezi yizithelo ezibusisa labo esiphila labo. Sonke siyakuthanda ukuthandwa lokuhlala phakathi kwabantu abathokozayo njalo abagcina ukuthula. Siyakufisa ukubekezelelwa. Kumnandi ukuphila labantu abalomusa, abantu abalungileyo njalo ababekezelayo. Siyabathanda abatshengisa umusa lokulunga kithi. Kuhle ukuba sebantwini abathembekileyo, abazithibayo, abangaphongulahla imilomo nxa kuxoxwa. Bayazinina izenzo ezidala ingxabangxoza.

Izenzo ezinhle ziyathandeka, zifana nje lokumofuza izithelo ezinhle ezakha umzimba ziwuvikele emikhuhlaneni. Kodwa izenzo eziqukethe isono ziyisinengiso, zimbi zifana lezithelo ezibolileyo. Kambe ezakho izithelo empilweni ngezinjani? Zinhle ziyabukeka kumbe hatshi? Bayakunina abanye kumbe uyathandeka? Bakukhangela ngandlela bani ophila labo?

Cela kuMoya ONgcwele. Ungumsizi wethu. Umcele akuhole, akulungisise. Cela ahlambulule inhliziyo yakho ufanele ukuba ngoweNkosi.

Asithandaze: Nkosi, nangu umntanakho. Uyafisa ukuthi aphile impilo yezithelo zezenzo ezinhle eziqondiswa nguMoya ONgcwele. Umsize aphile ngendlela ekuthokozisayo Nkosi, lamhla lanininini. Amen.

Barbara Nkala

STORIES OF FAITH

Thembelihle Ncube

The ever-present help

“I will give thanks to you, Lord with all my heart

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”

The above words from Psalm 9:1, 2 (NIV) have become my daily song. I sing it loudly and I sing it in my heart. I sing it when I am working and when I am walking. I sing it as I go to sleep, and when I wake up. I sing it everywhere. If the Lord God has been the ever-present help to you in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), then you will know what I am talking about.

My name is Thembelihle, uMaMoyo, married to Qhubekani Ncube for more than 18 years now. God has blessed us with three beautiful girls who are a joy to us. Bokani Lisa was born in 2001, Taboka in 2003, and Thandeka Christine in 2012. When I kept having girl after girl, though I was not saved then, I knew there was God in heaven, and I told myself that he knew best why he was giving us only girls. Relatives were always subtly pushing for a boy because a home without a boy seems to be almost cursed in some of our communities. I was under pressure and even told my husband that I was willing to try for another child, but he said, “No, no! We have enough. How are we going to care for all those children? Life is hard enough as it is!” So, I rested my case.

My husband and I came to Harare to look for work. He got a job as a gardener with very nice people from Norway, Marten and Christine Sodarberg. We have been in the premises of this family to date. They trust Qhubekani with taking care of their home even while they are gone for many months. For a long time, I was simply a house-wife with no job outside the home. Sometimes I would go with other women to cut the tall elephant grass to sell to those who needed thatch along Harare Drive. We did this to try and augment our husbands’ meagre wages.  

Our biggest challenge came when Lisa was going to turn five. There was no way we would afford school fees in Harare, particularly in the former A schools, that used to be a reserve for Whites. We knew that education was very important. We did not wish for our child to end up being a domestic worker. Education opens doors in life. So, we decided that I would go to the countryside where Lisa would start school. Even then, we were faced with many problems. Where would we get the money to support family in Harare and also in Dete?

Schools were far apart, and our little girl would have to walk ten kms to and from school each day, unless we sought help from villagers near the school where she could stay during the week. The area in Dete was also known for roaming wild animals like elephants and even lions. These were a big menace to people. Children did not go to school when these animals were in the area. All these things, as well as thinking of the separation from my husband gave me sleepless nights.

Just as we were pondering these sour thoughts, the Sodarberg family had elderly visitors from Norway. The visiting wife said to me, “I hear you have a child by the name of Lisa. I’d love to meet her. I am also Lisa.” The visitors took pictures with Lisa and with all of us in the family. They also asked for Lisa’s birth certificate and got a photocopy of it. Just before they left for Norway, they said, “Do you mind if we educate your child? We are prepared to pay her school fees from now till she completes her education at any school of her choice.”

Some things happen and they are like a sweet dream. You fear that you will wake up to find it was all but a dream. I pinched myself to see whether I was awake. Yes, I was. We were so full of joy. That came with peace of mind. True to their word, the angels sent by God sent the fees for Lisa’s schooling from that year, 2006, to date. They sent money to buy all the school uniforms she needed from toe to head.

The next hurdle came three years down the line when Taboka had to start going to creche. Only my husband brought an income in the family and it was not enough to send Taboka to school. The Sodarbergs told us they would be responsible for Taboka’s fees and school uniforms. What a relief! If this is not being loved and cared for by God, then I do not know what it is. My husband only provided the food we ate. All else was taken care of.

Taboka became a star in tennis at Vainona Primary School. She even was a captain of the team for three years running. Thanks to the Sodarbergs who allowed her to play with the family since she was young as they were all tennis fanatics. They bought her all the necessary tennis kit, white skirts and shirts, white takkies and socks, tennis rackets and balls. Taboka won three medals while she was at Primary School. Currently she plays girls’ soccer at Vainona High School and they provide all that is needed. Surely, God has been so good. What more can we ask for.

I did eventually get work at Wendy’s Nursery School at Gora Crescent in Borrowdale. When I was pregnant with Thandeka, Wendy promised that my baby would come to the nursery school for free. And that is what happened. Thandeka’s name is Christine, after Marten’s wife. When she was ready for school, Christine said, “She has my name. We are going to pay for all her schooling.” Thandeka is currently in Grade 2 at Vainona Primary School, where her sisters went. All fees have been paid by the Sodarbergs since she was in Grade 0A four years ago. 

What can I say? I have seen God’s abundant blessings befall my family. I have thanked and praised the Lord. A few years ago, I said to God, “Lord God, you gave me a brain to think, and strength to work. I only work half a day at the creche. I need to be fully occupied so I can be a blessing to my family.” God did exactly that. There are so many wanting Thembi Ncube to work for them that I have even recommended other fellow sisters in the Lord who did not have jobs, and they are happily employed.

Life was very hard as it is for so many people in the country. But I want to shout about God’s goodness to my family from the rooftop. He has done great things for my family! Now I am able to support my maternal grandmother in the rural areas, as well as my mother-in-law. Now I can attend church services regularly. I used to miss church many Sundays as I had no bus fare. Now I can pay my dues at church, and even benefit from attending conferences with other women. I even have good job offers that keep coming, so that my prayer is for wisdom on what to choose.

Lisa is in Form 6 now. No one in my husband’s family or in mine has gone that far with their education. My relatives used to say, “Thembi, you are all living in town. With the children? How will you educate them?” I always tell them, “By God’s power!” Lisa is writing her ‘A’ Level examinations, and we are praying she will indeed do well and pursue her dreams in doing a Law course.

If it were not for God, if it were not for his ever-present help in trouble, I do not know where we would be. I am just praying and praising and watching what next.

Thembelihle is married to Qhubekani Ncube and they have the three beautiful girls growing under the wing of God’s amazing grace.

 ***

Sesizahlangana kuviki elizayo. Bala, wetshise, ucabange, ulobe lawe. Mkhulu lumsebenzi.

 Ungakhohlwa, esalela muva ithiwa xhaka yizinja! 

Asihlanganeni njalo kuviki elizayo.

Ngiyalithanda, njalo ngiyabonga!

Gogo Nkala