MTENDERE

Munali mtendere mu Lusaka

yitatha miyezi inai ya

kumenya mvula yaukali.

Namondwe anapopoma

po po po.

Zigumula zidalephera

kugonjetsa Mzinda wathu.

Lusaka yinamenya

kusintha kwanyengo.

PEACE

There was peace in Lusaka 

after four months of

fighting furious rains. 

The deluge wooshed 

woosh woosh woosh. 

Floods had failed

to defeat our city. 

Lusaka fought

climate change.

KUFUNDA KWADZIKO

Lusaka yikuŵefemuka

befu befu befu.

Kufunda kwadziko kwabweretsa

kutentha nyengo yozizira iyi. Modabwitsa,

Mzinda wathu uli wotentha

m’mwezi wa Cisanu.

Zotuluka zingakhale cifukwa.

Lero limveka monga

masana a Mafundi.

GLOBAL WARMING

Lusaka is panting

pant pant pant.

Global warming has brought

heat this cold season.

Surprisingly,

our City is hot

in the month of June.

Emissions could be the reason.

Today feels like

an October afternoon.

MKHALIDWE

Moto winanso ukubuka 

bhu bhu bhu.

Mkhalidwe umakhala uipitsidwa

monga mtima wacinyengo

ngati anthu aotcha zinyalala.

Dera lathu lipuma mphepo yauve

pamene malaŵi apsereza zapadzala.

Zoipitsa izi

zili bvuto lopanga munthu

zimene zisautsa Dziko Lapansi.

Winawake anali kuotcha zinyatsi

m’bwalo usiku watha.

Utsi wonyansa ukuipitsa

mkhalidwe wathu.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Another fire is crackling

crackle crackle crackle.

The environment becomes polluted

like a corrupt heart

when people burn rubbish.

Our community breathes dirty air

as flames incinerate garbage.

This pollution

is a man-made problem

that pesters Planet Earth.

Someone was burning trash

in a yard last night.

Filthy smoke is polluting

our environment.

MAZIKO

Nsanja Bennie Mwiinga ndi

cimango cacitali

m’mtima wodukhula

wa dera lathu

du du du.

Nsonga yikukhudza mlengalenga.

Ndi copangidwa ca citsulo.

Nsanja, yopakidwa

cofiira ndi coyera,

ifika mitambo.

Monga zolukanalukana

zikuteteza mitima yathu,

mpanda uzinga maziko

pa Mseu Bennie Mwiinga.

THE BASE

Bennie Mwiinga Tower is

the tallest structure

in the throbbing heart

of our community

throb throb throb.

The tip touches the sky.

It is made of iron.

The Tower, painted

red and white,

reaches clouds.

Like networks

safeguarding our hearts,

a fence surrounds the base

on Bennie Mwiinga Road.

WOKALAMBA

Ankhanza aŵiri akankha citseko cimene

mkazi wokalamba akukankhaso.

Iye ayesa kugwira

tabwa monga cishango.

Nkhanza yao ilandira kutchingira.

Mphamvu yake ivumbulika

kwa alionse amene achepetsa

kupitirizika kwa ukalamba.

Iye atchinga nkhanza

pakukana kukhala osoŵa.

Wankhanza yense akukankha

mwacigogogo, koma wokalamba wathu

wakhoza kupotokola cifungulo koo.

ELDER

Two abusers push a door that

an elderly woman is pushing back.

She tries to wield

the wood like a shield.

Their abuse receives resistance.

Her power is revealed

to anybody who underrates

the persistence of old age.

She resists abuse

by refusing to be disadvantaged. 

Each abuser is pushing

forcefully, but our elder

has managed to twist a key.

KUPIKISANA

Ana atatu anali kuthamanga

pamwamba ndi pansi pamakwerera

m’cimangidwe citali

pafupi ndi Citunda ca Manda.

Atauluka zosanja zisanu,

iwo anapikisana kunsanjika kunsi.

Othamanga anali ndi

zikonzeko zaseŵero.

Wothamanga wacimodzi

anadutsadutsa makwerera,

koma iye sanapate. 

Wina waciŵiri analumpha

kwerera kena konse

ndipo nalephera.

Mwana wacitatu anapata mpikisano

pakuthamanga m’cingwe coongoka.

RACING

Three children were running

up and down the stairs

in a tall building

near Manda Hill.

After soaring five storeys,

they raced to the ground floor.

The runners had

game plans.

The first runner

crisscrossed the stairs,

but he did not win.

The second one jumped

every other stair

and lost.

The third child won the race

by running in a straight line.

MLATHO

Kakongoledwe ka Mlatho Munali

ndi kosatsutsika. Cing’anima usiku.

Ise tilibe kanthu kokanganapo.

Mlatho uthetsa mabvuto amseu.

Palibe cotsutsa.

Kukoma kwa Mlatho wa Munali

sikunakanganepo. Cinyezimira

pa Mseu Waukulu Wakum’maŵa.

Mlatho Munali uimilira mokongola.

BRIDGE

The magnificence of Munali Bridge

is undeniable. It sparkles at night. 

We have nothing to debate.

The Bridge solves road problems.

There is no denying.

The beauty of Munali’s Bridge

has never been debatable. It glitters

on Great East Road.

Munali Bridge stands magnificently.

VWENDE

Ine ndinagula vwende yaing’ono

pa Msika Mtendere pafupi ndi kwathu.

Mitengo yinandipangitsa kufoka.

M’mero wanga unatsamwitsa

pa cizizwitso cowawa.

Zikulu zinali makwacha makumi asanu

ngati kuti mtengo udonsa msampha.

Zipatso zakhala zodula cwii

ngakhale kuti kunzuna

kulibe phindu lero.

Vwende yotsika yinali 

makwacha makumi aŵiri mlungu watha.

M’kuthenta kwa nyumba,

banja langa linayidya lonyowa

monga mikango yikukukuta mbeŵa.

Cipatso cinanunkhira kufiira mkati fii.

WATERMELON

I bought a small watermelon

at Mtendere Market near home.

The prices made me weak.

My throat choked

on bitter astonishment.

Big ones were fifty kwacha

as if the price pulled a prank.

Fruits have become expensive

even though sweetness 

has no value today.

The cheapest watermelon was

twenty kwacha last week.

In the heat of the house,

my family ate it wet

like lions gnashing a mouse.

The fruit smelled red inside.

MWAZI

Kusonkha mwazi kugalamutsa

mantha acibadwa.

Ise tikusisima ngati

madontho ofiira ati tho tho tho.

Kuopa kuŵaŵa

ndi udani wa nsingano

zilepheretsa anthu amantha.

Opeŵa akumatakataka

ndi kunjenjema

pamene ziphuphu ziuma.

Izi zoopa zionetsa kuti

msonkho wamwazi

uli nsembe yakudzimana.

Osonkha mwazi ali ndi

olimba mtima kupirira

kamphindi kamodzi koŵaŵa.

BLOOD

Donating blood arouses

natural terror.

We are whimpering when

red drops drip drip drip.

Fear of pain

and hatred of needles

deter terrified people.

Abstainers are squirming

and shivering

as goosebumps stiffen.

These fears suggest that

blood donation

is a selfless sacrifice.

The blood donors have

the strength of heart to endure

one painful moment.

KHUNGU

Mwamuna mwabi akufotokoza kuti

cimaphatikizapo citha

kunyoza kwakhungu.

Ubwenzi umveka monga linga

lokana cisokonezo kapena kusungulumwa

pamene amfunzi ayesa kukhetsa

ulemu ndi cigamulo cake.

Cipinda ciuka ndi kuomba

kwa kwa kwa.

Abwenzi ayenera kuthandiza

ngati akakumane ndi tsankho. M’cipanduko caphatikiziramo,

anzanu angathetse kupatulana.

SKIN

An albino man is explaining that

inclusion combats

skin shaming.

Friendship feels like a fortress

against confusion or alienation

when bullies try draining

his dignity and determination.

The room rises to applaud

clap clap clap.

Friends must help

if he faces discrimination.

In an inclusive revolution,

allies can invalidate exclusion.

MTSINJE WA ZAMBEZI

Madzi akhala akuŵira

kucokera nthawi

Dziko Lapansi linalengedwa

kubwi-kubwi kubwi-kubwi.

Tsopano pano,

Mtsinje wa Zambezi ukuyenda

kumalo aakulu a madzi. 

Iye ali mulendo wakukuŵirira koposa.

Kucokera gwero mu Mwinilunga,

mfuleni udzakapita

kumkhate wokulirapo kumene

pfunde lililonse lidzafutukula ndi kuchepa.

Monga mai wolemekezeka,

Zambezi yimapereka

moyo kucigaŵo cokhutira.

Mkaka wake umaukitsa aliyense.

Mitsinje ya Zambia

yimayenda padziko lonse.

ZAMBEZI RIVER

Water has been babbling

from the time

Planet Earth was formed

babble babble babble.

Right now,

the Zambezi River is flowing

to a bigger body of water.

She is the bubbliest traveller. 

From the source in Mwinilunga,

the stream will be going

to a larger basin where

every tide will distend and subside.

Like a glorified mother,

the Zambezi does provide

life to a satisfied region.

Her milk revitalises everyone.

Zambia’s rivers

flow worldwide.

MSIRIRO

Cikondwerero cako

cinatiphunzitsa 

kuti ndi codwalitsa

kusirira

khu khu khu.

Kususuka kuŵaŵa kwambiri

ayo mawe aa!

Msiriro ukulitsa nthenda

mmene kunyowa

kuoletsa mitengo.

Osusuka ayamba kudwala

ngati cisiriro ciumirira.

GREED

Your party

taught us

that it is sickening

to be greedy

glug glug glug.

Gluttony hurts so much

groan moan ouch!

Greed aggravates disease

the way sogginess

rots trees.

Gluttons start to be sick

when greediness persists.

NGODYA

Ngodya za kumpoto

zimathwanima masana onse

monga mitsempha ya leza

m’mitambo ya cikumbukiro. 

Kuŵala kwadzuŵa kumaloŵa

mbali imodzi ya nyumba.

Kuunika kwakhala kutsetsereka

kodutsa mazenera kucokera m’maŵa.

Monga cikumbukiro ca cowawa,

ngodya yakumpoto ya

cipinda ciliconse yikuthwanima.

CORNERS

Corners in the north

flash all afternoon

like veins of lightning

in memory’s clouds.

Sunshine ingresses

one side of the house.

Light has been sliding

through windows from morning.

Like a memory of pain,

the northern corner of

each room is flashing.

AFRIKA

Afrika yili ndi msika umodzi.

Maiko makumi-asanu-mphambu-asanu

agulitsa mautumiki mu

Malo Amalonda Omasuka.

Colinga cathu ndi kuchirikiza

ufulu wacuma.

Zambia yimagula zipatso

kucokera EneAfrika popeza

mgwirizano uchirikiza cimasuko.

AFRICA

Africa has one market.

Fifty-five nations

sell services in the

Free Trade Area.

Our goal is to sustain

economic independence.

Zambia buys products

from Africans because

unity sustains freedom.

CILALA

Cilala cidaononga

zokolola, ndi cinabweretsa

njala monga munalibe mitengo

m’thengo cakaco.

Cinali ngati kuti mudzi

udali kudula nthambi

du du du.

Zilala zambiri zinadza.

THE DROUGHT

The drought had destroyed

crops, and it brought

hunger like there were no trees

in the forest that year.

It was as if the village

had been chopping branches

chop chop chop.

More droughts came.

WOPHUNZITSA WATHU

Wophunzitsa wathu amalemba maseŵero

omwe aposa kukanthidwa

kwa mphezi ya mphamvu ya magetsi.

Ise tili m’mdima, kupenyera

luntha la mwamunayo

pa ciunda cong’anima.

Zolemba zake zili zopambana

popeza iye ayanjanitsa

tsoka lokakala

ndi nthabwala zosalala.

Oseŵera aloŵeza mau ake

kuomvetsera omwe akulira

ndi kuseka tye tye tye.

Manja athu athokoza iyo

ndi bingu la citamando.

Mphunzitsi wanga

asonyeza kuti cikali cothekadi

kupambana monga wolemba-waseŵero.

OUR LECTURER

Our lecturer writes plays

that are more shocking

than a jolt of electric power.

We are in the dark, watching

the man’s imagination

on a sparkling stage.

His scripts are successful

since he juxtaposes

rough tragedy

and slick comedy.

Actors recite his words

to an audience that is crying

and laughing explosively.

Our hands thank him

with the thunder of acclaim.

My teacher

proves that it is still possible

to succeed as a playwright.

NDAKATULO

Tiyeni tikumane pa Nyanja za Goma.

Mudze ndi ndakatulo yanu.

Bweretsani malembo.

Amaluso adzakakumana

pa Maphunziro Apamwamba a Zambia.

Kodi nciani inu mukubweretsa?

Ine ndidzakadza ndi lembo langa.

Andakatulo akukumana za Nyanja.

POETRY

Let us meet at the Goma Lakes.

Come with your poetry.

Bring texts.

Artists will be meeting

at the University of Zambia.

What are you bringing?

I shall be coming with my text.

Poets are meeting by the Lakes.

KULEMA

Mtsikana adayasamula kuzindikiritsa kulema.

Iye anali kuyasamula

yasa yasa yasa.

Dzanja lofooka linabisa kamwa kotseguka.

Lidali tsiku lotopetsa.

Makolo ake anayamba kuyasamula nao.

“Ise ndise otopa,” iwo anena.

Banja linali kuyasamula mofuula.

Pakamwa pao panatseguka mokulitsidwa

monga mvuu zionetsa minyanga.

Mabanja ena anali kugona kale.

Maso a mtsikana anamveka olema,

koma iye anaphethira kuyang’ana kupyola.

“Ine ndine wotopa,” iye anayasamula.

FATIGUE

The girl had yawned to signify fatigue.

She was yawning

yawn yawn yawn.

A weak hand covered an open mouth.

It had been a tiring day.

Her parents began to yawn too.

“We are tired,” they said.

The family was yawning loudly.

Their mouths opened widely

like hippopotamuses exposing tusks.

Some families were sleeping already.

The girl’s eyes felt fatigued,

but she blinked to look beyond.

“I am tired,” she yawned.

GOMBE

Ngalaŵa paliŵiro lofanana

ndi ncenga yinanyamula

okwera kuoloka Nyanja Kariba, koma

iwo sanathe kutsika

popeza njobvu

khavaa khavaa pagombe.

SHORE

A boat speeding like

Brycinus lateralis carried passengers

across Lake Kariba, but

they could not disembark

because of elephants

splish-splashing on the shore.

KUTSATA

Ise tinatsata atsogoleri athu

monga ana akumverera kholo.

Ambiri adalondola

mphamvu ndi citsogozo mmene

tizilombo timakhamukira nyali.

Komabe, inu munali kulondola

utsogoleri ndi cidwi

ngati kudzimana kwa mtumiki.

Ine ndinali kutsata.

FOLLOWING

We followed our leaders

like children obeying a parent.

Many had pursued

power and influence the way

insects swarm lamps.

However, you were pursuing

leadership and impact

as selflessly as a servant.

I was following.

KUSITA

Ine ndinayesa kusita zovala

tacita zocapa, koma

kunalibe magetsi

m’nyumba usiku uja.

Zikonzeko zanga zinaoneka

ngati kuonongeka

kwa bowa wonyowa.

Zipinda zonse zinali mdima bii,

ndi citsulo cinali cozizira zii.

Magetsi sanabwerere, motero

ine ndinayenera kuvala

malaya amakwinya ngati

bowa wouma gwaa.

IRONING

I tried ironing clothes

after doing laundry, but

there was no electricity

in the house that night.

My plans seemed

as spoiled

as a soggy mushroom.

All rooms were dark,

and the iron was cold.

Electricity did not return, so

I had to wear

an outfit as wrinkled

as a dry mushroom.

MATUZA

Mulole cakudya cizizire zii.

Musapsetse lilimi lanu. 

Kupupuluma kupanga matuza 

omwe aphulika m’kamwa kanu

phu phu phu.

Yembekezani nthunzi licepe.

Cinali kuŵira mmphika, 

motero cakudya ndi cotentha.

BLISTERS

Let the food cool.

Do not burn your tongue.

Rushing causes blisters

that burst in your mouth

pop pop pop.

Wait for the steam to subside.

It was boiling in the pot,

so the food is hot.

MFUMU

Mfumu ndi mutu wathu

mu Cumaconse ca Maiko.

Iye anali kalonga

mpaka mai wake anamwalira.

Ndodo anabweretsa kwa iyo.

Ngale zathu zaveka Mfumu.

THE KING

The King is our head

in the Commonwealth of Nations.

He was a prince

until his mother died.

The sceptre was brought to him.

Our jewels adorn the King.

CONDE

Conde kumbukirani

kukonzanso zinyalala

ndi kuzima nyali phii.

Kusintha kwanyengo

kwakhala kozunguza ngati

njoka yonyongana,

koma mayankho olama

adzabweza kufunda kwadziko.

PLEASE

Please remember

to recycle rubbish

and to turn off lights.

Climate change

has become as convoluted

as a twisted serpent,

but sensible solutions

will reverse global warming.

ALIONSE

Winawake adafesa mbeu

atagaula ponseponse

gau gau gau.

Kalikonse kangafale paja.

Mbeu ija inakula tsiku lililonse.

Alionse anatha kuona kuti

cinacake cinali kutuluka

kucokera m’nthaka yofeŵa.

Ndipo aliyense anayamba kufesa

mbeu yambiri pano.

ANYBODY

Someone had planted a seed

after digging everywhere

dig dig dig.

Anything can thrive there.

That seed grew every day.

Anybody could see that

something was emerging

from the soft soil.

Then everyone started to plant

more seeds here.

CISANGALALO

Cisangalalo cakhala cikucitika kwa ife.

Mitima yathu yikhetsa nthungululu

lu lu lu.

Cimveredwe cidzamariza, komabe

ise tikukonza tikhalebe osangalala.

Ntchito yingachirikize cimwemweci

ngati zikondwerero zatha.

Tiyeni tikonze kukhalabe osangalala.

Antchito alandira cidzikhutiro,

ndi okonza adzikondweretsa okha.

Cikondwero cingotuluka, koma

citenga khama kukondwera.

Cikonzeko canga cili kudzikhutiritsa

kotazimiririka mamveredwe aya.

Ine ndine wosangalala.

HAPPINESS

Happiness has been happening to us.

Our hearts ooze ululation

ululate ululate ululate.

The feeling will finish, however

we are planning to stay happy.

Work can sustain this bliss

when the celebrations cease.

Let us plan to remain happy.

Workers earn self-satisfaction,

and planners enjoy themselves.

Joy just emerges, but

it takes effort to rejoice.

My plan is to be self-satisfied

after these feelings fade.

I am happy.

MALIRE

Malire aoneketsa kudziŵika kwa Afrika.

Zingwe zadziko zitsimikiza udzilamuliro.

Kaonekedwe ka Zambia

ndi cithunzithunzi cokongola copangidwa ca malire ogwirizanitsana

a Zimbabwe kunsi kum’mwera,

Malaŵi ndi Mozambique

kulamanja kum’maŵa,

Congo kumwamba kumpoto, ndi

Angola kulamanzere kumadzulo.

Malire athu akugundana

gu gu gu.

Maiko a Afrika

agaŵana malire ogwirizana.

BORDERS

Borders shape Africa’s identity.

Country lines reinforce sovereignty.

The shape of Zambia

is a magnificent image made

by the unified borders

of Zimbabwe down south,

Malawi and Mozambique

to the right in the east,

The Congo up north, and

Angola to the left in the west.

Our borders are brushing

brush, brush, brush.

The nations of Africa

share united borders.

CINYANJADI

Indetu, ndi coona

kuti Cinyanja ndi cilankhulidwe cathu.

Mai wanga anabadwira mu Lusaka.

Inde, iye analoŵa miyambo yamadera.

Ana ake anabadwira mwa Kalingalinga.

Ndithu, Mzinda ulankhula kwa ife.

Coonadi ndi kuti tikhala mu Mtendere.

Indedi, Lusaka yikamba kwa ineyo.

Monga phokoso,

ine ndiyankha mu Cinyanjadi.

ACTUAL NYANJA

Absolutely, it is true

that Nyanja is our language.

My mother was born in Lusaka.

Yes, she inherited local traditions.

Her children were born in Kalingalinga.

Of course, the City speaks to us.

The truth is that we live in Mtendere.

Definitely, Lusaka talks to me.

Like an uproar,

I respond in actual Nyanja.

MATHITHI

Mlongo wao adapita yekha

kumathithi monga kakadzidzi

kauluka kokha

zee zee zee.

Iye anali kupita kodutsa nkhalango

pomwe mvula yitayamba kugwa

paka paka paka.

Monga akadzidzi asaka

nsomba kapena kalulu,

abale ake anapita

kumathithiwo,

koma iye sanaliko.

WATERFALL

Their sister had gone alone

to the waterfall like an owlet

soaring solo

soar soar soar.

She was going through the jungle

when rain started pouring

splish splish splish.

Like owls stalking

fish or hare,

her brothers went

to the same waterfall,

but she was not there.

CIUNDA

Akazi khumi adalankhula paciunda.

Ise tinaomba munsi mwa mitambo

monga zingiringiri m’kamvulumvulu.

Mphepo yinaloŵa mobangula;

tsindwi linali lotseguka.

Iwo adakhala akulankhula

kunsi kwa nyenyezi zophimba.

Mkazi wakhumi analankhula pansi

pamwezi wobisika. Anthu akhala

akuomba pamene iwo anasiya ciunda.

THE STAGE

Ten women had spoken on stage.

We clapped below clouds

like bells in whirlwinds.

Air entered with a roar;

the roof was open.

They had been speaking

beneath concealed stars.

The tenth woman spoke under

a hidden moon. People have been

clapping since they left the stage.