Umlilo Wezinhliziyo

Abavikeli bomphakathi okungamaphoyisa amasosha kanye nezicimamlilo

bayoyizekela amagwababa echobana impicabadala egilwe ngumphakathi

wasendaweni yaseNtanzini namuhla. INtanzini ayiqhelile esizweni samaNtungwa

esingaphansi kweNdlovukazi yasemaNtungweni. Kuthe ngezithuba zehora lesibili

kwesikabhadakazi kwabizwa izicimamlilo ngenxa yesikole ebesivutha amalangabi.

Izicimamlilo zizamile ukuphuthuma zizolwisana nalomshophi kodwa zafika

umonakalo usuvele udalekile, into ezibambezele kakhulu kube ngumgwaqo

wobhuqu waseNtanzini omigodigodi kanye nezinguzunga zamatshe ebezigqishwe

emgwaqeni kuvalwe ngazo. Izicimamlilo zithe zisakhombisa amangwevu azo

nobuchule zicima esikolweni basebewuhlabile umkhosi esigodini esingaphesheya

ngenxa yomtapo wolwazi obusha ungqongqa nawo. Kube esifanayo futhi njengoba

izicimamlilo zivinjwe ngamatshe emgwaqeni, imoto yezicimamlilo ipoqoke yaphela

ngenxa yombokodo abebedilizwa iqulu lezinsizwa ebezisesicongweni sentaba

zikhuza izaga. Kuwo lowo mnyama kuqubuke amakhulu amalangabi kwaqhuma

isililo emizini emithathu eqhelelene kanye kanye; okungowekhansela eliphethe,

neselazibeka phansi izintambo kanye nowenkosi yesizwe uFuze. Sekusemini

bebade nelanga linsizwa, ngiboshwe isandla sami sahlanganiswa nesandla

sikaNgwazi ngamasongo, ngaphambi kwequlu lamalungu omphakathi elibhekene

ngeziqu zamehlo nabavikeli bomphakathi, abahlome bayizingovolo.

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Ngangikhona ngonyaka we-1994, mhla iNingizimu Afrika entsha futhi ekhululekile

isingatha ukhetho lokuqala ngqa olukhululekile. Ngangineminyaka eyishumi

nesishiyagalolunye ngaleyo nkathi. Kusempondo zankomo ngayikhahlela ingubo

ngageza sakuzicwala ngachopha ingqakala yami ngase ngibhinca ibheshu

nembatha lami, ngesandla semfene ngabamba isihlangu sami sakusithwala ngivika

ilanga elalinsizwa esibhakabhakeni kungekho nafu linye. Zonke izinto zazishintshile

ngaleya mini ngoba imini yendlu emnyama yase ifikile isiphila phakathi kwethu kuhle

komlobokazi wekhethelo emzini. Ngahosha isikhwili sami esisha ceke engangisibaze

ubusuku bonke ngasinika igama likaMpumelelo, kanti isihlangu sona sathola

elikaNtuthuko okwase kuyintshumayelo eyayisedosheni labaholi bendlu yakithi.

Ngangena emgwaqeni ngasina ingoma yenjabulo eyayisamkhuleko wokubonga

 

 

ukufika kwemini eyayizolinganisa omhlophe nomnyama, ibuyise isithunzi

nokuziqhenya ensizweni nasentombini empisholo. Ngazibona sengihudula ujenga

lomshungu olwaluvunule luconsa lusina kanye nami sibheke esikoleni samabanga

aphansi; iNtanzini Primary School. Lapho sasiyoshaya isiphambano eceleni

kwekhanda elalibonakala liqukethe zonke izethembiso esasizilambele. Eceleni

kwalelo khanda kwakugqama impumelelo nezethembiso zomlomo walo ezabe

seziphumelele yize zingakaqali.

Indlela engasina ngayo yangethusa kakhulu ngoba kwabasengathi

sekungokokugcina ngiphila, kwakungazathi umphefumulo usuyaphuma kowami

umzimba. Kwathi nxa kudedelwa imiphumela ayangangimmangaza ngoba ibala

elinsundu ilona elalinqobile. Kwaphela inyanga yonke isithupha sami singathintwa

lutho olusaketshezi ngithokozele leli bala lo-inki onsundu owawukuso.

Waqala umshikashika wentuthuko nokufeza izethembiso, ngaba vule msakazo wami

welahle kwakhulunywa ngentuthuko. Ngaba thenge phephandaba kwakhulunywa

ngohlahlomali oluhlelelwe intuthuko. Kwaphela iminyaka emine kubanjwa kuyekwa

kwelakithi singaboni kwenzakalani. Kwabizwa umhlangano kwathiwa iyeza

intuthuko, kwathiwa kuyeza ukukhanya kodwa kuzoyoqala koNdabezitha uFuze.

Kuzoqedwa uthuli emgwaqeni ngetiyela kodwa kuzozibulwa ngomzila obheke

koNdabezitha iQadi elikhulu. Kwazitshwa kubhekiwe izintambo nezigxobo zikagesi

zidabula phakathi kweNtanzini nezigodi zayo ezine ubheke ngaphesheya komfula

uMziyonke endaweni iZanyana enezigodi ezimbili. Kwakhanya ngaphesheya

sahlalela ethembeni nganeno nentuthu yamalongwe ethu. Amehlo ethu agcwala

uthuli samuka nemifula nganeno, ngaphesheya koMziyonke yayinhle impilo.

Kwathiwa asivote ngoba nakithi kuyeza okuhle eminyakeni emibili njengoba

umkhumbi unyakaza nje, sambandaza, sangundaza, iminwe bayikhomba

ngaphesheya kwathiwa: ubufakazi bungaphesheya koMziyonke esigodini

sikaNdabezitha. Sagqugquzeleka sathutheleka ezikhungweni kuhle kukaZulu eya

eMakheni siyobeka iziphambano eduze kwekhanda elalithwelwe ngeqoma.

Emva kweminyaka emibili sizibophe ngevoti kwadabula amapayipi amanzi ebheke

ngaphesheya koMziyonke kuyofakwa amanzi eZanyana esigodini sikaNdabezitha

kuphela. Sabukana emehlweni siyiNtanzini. Kwakhiwa inkantolo nomtholampilo

kwesikaNdabezitha isigodi yalibaleka indaba yethu ebesithenjiswe ugesi netiyela.

 

 

Sezibheke ehlandleni lesithathu likahulumeni wentando yabantu, imizi ethize

yafakelwa izindlu zangasese eminye yasala ibambe ongezansi, nami ngasala

nginkemile ngoba angilitholanga kodwa angikhathazekanga neze ngoba

kwasemandulo angikaze ngiliswele. Kwathiwa asishone ezikhungweni siyovotela

uMongameli wethu sabuza ukuthi njengoba silokhu siyiphakamisa nje lendoda,

isidonsa nini yona kulo mgodi omnyama esikuwona. Kwathiwa ngowezi-2010 wonke

umuntu uyobe eqhafaza imbungulu ugesi usufikile. Sashona khona sagcwala

izinkalo siyothembeka kuleli bhungu elisisikaza ngomgcagco ube ulivela kancane

kangaka. Zaqala izidubedube abantu bebhikishela ukugqoza kwentuthuko

koNongoma, eThekwini, eMlazi, kwaMashu. Saqala sazishaya amakhala ngobaba

wethu esimvotele, sithe sesidumela emasumpeni isigaba sesine sokhetho

kwatheleka amaloli ethwele amapayipi nezixaxa, waqala umshikashika kumbiwa

imisele, kwakhiwa amathangi amanzi. Ngeviki elandulela elokhetho kwatheleka

izinqokonqoko zamaloli amade sabusiswa ngamapakana empuphu, kwathiwa

asishone khona okhethweni isifikile intuthuko ezovula imisebenzi iphumelelise

umphakathi waseNtanzini; savota sesithokozile. Saba fese sangaqashwa, noma

kuqashwa kuqashwe ngendlela ehlukanisa umphakathi kabili ishiye imibuzo

kwabaningi. Wagaleleka wadlula unyaka wesethembiso okwakungowezi-2010;

eNtanzini lutho amanzi, lutho ugesi, lutho itiyela kwamathoyilethi ayefakiwe

awasabonwa nangalukhalo. Kwathiwa asilinde owezi-2014 okuyilapho sonke sizobe

sesinogesi ngoba iMbazo Project isiqale ukwakha isiteshi esisha sikagesi; isiteshi

esizowuphehla siphinde siwusabalalise njengoba lesi esinye singeke sibe namandla

okuphakela iNtanzini yonke. Kwasondela ukhetho lwakulonyaka (2014) zaqala izinto

kwangathi ziyakhanyakhanya eNtanzini; kwagxunyekwa izimpompi, sisammangazwe

ilokho kwambiwa imigodi emizini yethu sakhelwa izindlu zangasese.

Sabukana sodwa siyiNtanzini, izindonga zemizi yethu zalotshwa izinombolo.

Kwathiwa ngezikagesi, zaqala izihlathi kithi zavakashela amehlo; injabulo yazinza

ezinhliziyweni, yasina emiqondweni yethu. Kwakhethwa imizi eyisithupha

kwagxunyekwa izigxobo zikagesi yakhanya lemizi, salindiswa kuthiwa

bekusaqedelwa ibhajethi yanyakenye. Kwathiwa asiphikelele okhethweni ngoba

inkulu indaba ezayo ngolomhla zingama-27 kuNhlaba. Salinda kwaze kwanqundeka

amehlo silinde umnyama ongenanhlansi njengoba sigojela uMandulo namuhla

kungenzeki lutho. Umphakathi ubhekene ngeziqu zamehlo nabezokuvikela

 

 

asebezibambe baziqinisa izinhlokohlela zabo imibhobho eminingi ibheke kumina

njengoba sengivele ngathi qekelele ngenxa yokuhlehla kwabantu ebengizabalaza

nabo ngaphenduka umholi walomshungu ocekele phansi izingqalasizinda. Kodwa-ke

akukho nokuncane ukuzisola enhliziyweni yami ngalesi senzo ebengingakaze

ngisicabange senzeka ikakhulu nami ngimdibimunye naso, kukodwa kuphela

engizisola ngakho, lokho-ke okokuvotela ubala kuze kuphele iminyaka

engamashumi amabili. Kulamaphoyisa ami ngaphesheya ahlome ayizingovolo

kunyomuke elilodwa eseliqinile nokho liza nombhobho. “Uxolo bakwethu.” Likhuza

umsindo walo mshungu osungiphendule umholi. “Uxolo bo.” Liqhubeka likhuza.

Kube sengathi libabanga kakhulu labantu ukuthi bangalilaleli. Ngivele

ngizimoyizelele kancane nje kuhle kwentombi ibona isoka. Kusondele elilodwa

ilungu lomphakathi linginike umbhobho, ngishaqeke okwesikhashana.

Ngesikhathi sengithi ngiyaqala ngiyakhuluma uNgwazi abe esesiqalile isaga ethi

bafuna umongameli wezwe azifikele yena mathupha azozixazulela loludaka lwakhe

olungasaxoveki lana eNtanzini. Zishaya lesi saga nje ziyagida ezaseNtanzini

ungafunga ukuthi zisemqhudelwaneni wengoma manje. Ngikhenyeze

ngidondolozela ngiye ngakulo leli phoyisa, ngifike ngilidlule ngiye ngiyoyama ngeveni

yawo amaphoyisa, ngikhokhe umoya, lapho-ke ngase ngizibonela ukuthi

lamaphoyisa ayeselindele oyedwa ozoqala adubule bese kuqedwa ngami

ngezinganono; senginexhalana kodwa ngiziqinisa. “Bakwethu, asixoxisaneni.

Angizimisele ukugcina ngenze lento esikhishelwe yona mina.” Kukhuluma leli

phoyisa embhobhweni. “Yenze! Yenze! Yenze!” uNgwazi ememeza eshaya ihlombe

wenanele nomphakathi. Lithukuthele lithelwe ngamanzi leli phoyisa uma libona

ngihleka nami. “Ave ixaka indlela ‘uhulumeni’ wethu asebenza ngayo, ngoba kulezi

zinyangana ezidlule ubesigeza izinyawo, eguqe lana phambi kwethu esinxusa,

esincenga ukuba simuvotele, nxa sesimuvotele usephenduka esiswini

okwamambawu, lawa athumela nina ukuthi nizowachitha kowami umuzi uthi

asibulawe. Ave zimhlophe izandla zikahulumeni wethu njengoba ezenu zivuza igazi

nje nina bakwasidlodlo.” Nginyomuka kulamaphoyisa ngiye kwezohlobo lwami

izinkabi kwazise uMsamariya akadlelani noMjuda. Ngikhalise lombhobho okwemoto

yamaphoyisa ngihamba phambi kwezohlobo lwakithi. Kuthulakale. Ngicime

umbhobho wami bese ngikhomba iphoyisa ngilinika ithuba. “Ngiyabo...” ube usushilo

ngengila umbhobho wami ngize ngiwuphakamisele phezulu. Lapho izandla zalezi

 

 

zimpethu zendlovu ezimi ngemuva kwami besezindiza phezulu bebhiyoza kukhala

amakhwela kuqhuma umkikizo wena owabona kungene igoli enkundleni enkulu

egcwele phama. Ngiphakamise isandla bese behlisa baze bathule. “Uxolo.

Bengisakuthulisela bona wena womthetho.” Ngikhulume maqede ngigoqe izandla,

umbhobho uncike ehlombe.

“Nibhikishelani bakwethu?” leli phoyisa lehlisa umoya. “Ugesi... amanzi...

umgwaqo... indelelo... ukubukelwa phansi...” leyo ngeminye yemibono

engayicaphuna njengoba ezami zazikhuluma kanye kanye nje. Ngithule ngilinde

baze bathule bonke. “NginguMzilikazi kaMashobane mina wena wakwasidlodlo.”

Ngibingelela ngokwakophoyisa. “UNdlovu lona.” uNdlovu ehlehla kancane.

“Ngonyama! Nxa ubheka nje ngeso lakho wena waseNgonyameni, yini lena

ebhikishelwayo lana eNtanzini?” ngiwubambe sakuchoma umbhobho wami.

“Anginalwazi olungako ngalo mbhikisho wenu Mbulazi ngoba mumva nje

senabhikishela nokuhlushwa ngamagundane emizini yenu, ingakho-ke ngicela

ningichazele kancane.” “Gatsheni! Uma kungafika intombi kuwe oyithembile

noyithanda kakhulu ikunike ucu bese ikuthembisa izulu nomhlaba ungenzenjani?

Ungaluthatha lolocu?” “Yebo Mbulazi.” uNdlovu ekhuluma evikile ngokusasihlangu.

“Uma lentombi iqoma ngaphesheya kwakini kuze kumiswe neduku bese ibuya kuwe

ikunika isizathu esiphathekayo sesenzo sayo ungasilalela?” uNdlovu azinwaye

ibunzi esindwa ilombuzo. “Uma lentombi eyakunika ucu ikuvakashela umzuzu

owodwa kuphela enyakeni bese ivakasha iminyaka emine yonke esokeni

langaphesheya ungaphatheka kanjani, njengoba umphefumulo wakho uboshelwe

kuyona?” “Ngingadabuka kakhulu Mtungwa.” uNdlovu ngeliphansi.

“Mpongo kaZingelwayo, mingaki iminyaka lakhululeka lelizwe lakithi?” “Ingamashumi

amabili nengxenye yonyaka.” “Kunjalo impela Boya benyathi. Lokho kuchaza ukuthi

nentuthuko kumele engabe isiphindaphindwe izikhawu ezingamashumi amabili

kulendawo. Kukhona okuqaphelayo okufakazela lokho lana eNtanzini?” Ngilungisa

isigqoko sami engasishiyelwa ikhehla elingizalayo. “Akulula ukuqagula Mtungwa,

ikakhulu njengoba usungqongqise isikole nomtapo...” “Izinkukhu zazingakehli

emthini kungena zonke lezinto ozibalayo Mpongo.” Ngisho ngifela phansi maqede

ngikhahlele inhlabathi ngigqibe. UNdlovu aqalaqalaze. “Ngibona amathoyilethi,

nanka amanzi kumpompi, nansi imizi inogesi. Kufunwani kanti? Ninikwa isandla

nifuna ingalo yonke.” uNdlovu enikina ikhanda. Nginyuse amakhala. “Usale kanjani-

 

 

ke lompompi ngoba besibasumpula nje? Ngicela wena phoyisa omi lapho

ngasempompini uyakaze leso sigujana bese ukhelela uGatsheni amanzi.”

Ngikhomba. Lithathe isigujana likhongozele iphoyisa livule impompi. “Empeleni

uyayivala uma wenze njalo wakithi.” Ngisho ngokunganaki. Lidideke iphoyisa.

“Ayaphuma?” Ngifulathele ngiphinde ngiphenduke. Linikine ikhanda iphoyisa.

“Ingoba uyivalile mnumzana. Vula impompi bo, wonyiwe uNgonyama.” Ngiqinisa

amehlo. Linikine ikhanda liyivule, lutho amanzi. Liyivale liyivule futhi kungabi

namehluko.

“Isonto lesihlanu-ke Gatsheni leli kunjena...” “Ikhona nje i-waterkan.” uNdlovu edla

ulimi. Ngiphenduke ngibheke emuva kuhhomuzele. “Asiwazi lowo mhlola

osikhulumela wona Zingelwayo.” Ngikhumula isigqoko ngisibuka. “Ilemoto enilethela

amanzi.” “Yeyi, siyazi ukuthi yini leyonto kodwa ayikaze yafika lana!” uNgwazi

esefudumele. “Nogesi lona owukhombayo Gatsheni, ufakwe emizini eyisithupha

kuphela njengoba iNtanzini indlaleke kangaka. Akuyona indelelo leyo kubantu?

Kulogesi kunezinto okungamele uzisebenzise njengegiza, isitofu esimapuleti mane

nokunye nje. Ugesi onjani lowo?” Ngibone uNdlovu enikina ikhanda. “Kunetiyelana

elingenayo kulo mgwaqo eningene ngawo niza lana, kodwa liphelela obala nje,

nilibonile nani. Iyishumi nesikhombisa iminyaka liqhethe kanjalo kulokhu kuthiwa

akulindwe. Intuthuko leyo? Eminyakeni eyishumi nambili edlule sike sahlaselwa

izinkanyamba, kwafika umasipala wazosisukela wasibhalisa wasithembisa imixhaso,

ukhona nje owubonayo Mpongo? Gatsheni, lentuthuko oyibona lana iyifanele na

iminyaka engamashumi amabili?” ngixhuma inqawe yami emlonyeni ngizulazula.

Athule uNdlovu. “Ngisho izinsuku ezimbili ziyifanele ‘lentuthuko’ yethu futhi seziningi

kakhulu nazo, amahora amabili anele, alingana nayo...” “Yebo!!!” ngiphazanyiswa

ilomshungu wami.

UNdlovu anikine ikhanda. “Manje njengoba senishise imizi yabantu, yini indaba,

owani lomlilo?” uNdlovu eneka izandla. Ngihleke kancane ngizinwaya onceshaneni,

emva kwami kuthulakale. “Anikhombisi nokuzisola ngesenzo senu esinobulwane

kangaka?” uNdlovu engibukisisa. “Angizisoli nakancane mina mfokaGatsheni,

kodwa-ke kumele ngikucacise okokuthi angikaze nangelilodwa ilanga ngibone

kufinyelela kulesi sigaba, ngamafuphi nje ngisashaqekile kodwa ngithokozile. Lo

mlilo oshise yonke lento ngumlilo wengcindezelo nenkohliso yeminyaka

engamashumi amabili ebeyimbeswe isikhumba senkululeko, udalwe ngumasipala

 

 

nohulumeni qobo lwakhe thina sakhwezela. Lona ngumlilo wezethembiso

ezingafezekanga. Lo mlilo owemigwaqo emigodigodi okuthi nxa linile kubhajwe

okungamakalishana ethu, nompompi abaswele amanzi, nemisebenzi yamathenda

ededelwa ngokwenzelela lana eNtanzini. Lomlilo ngowomehluko phakathi

kweNtanzini neZanyana. Lomlilo ngowenhliziyo Gatsheni, inhliziyo ekade kwasa

iphulwa kodwa ilokhu imnene, ibekezela, ilindile kukho konke lokho.” “Mtungwa,

intukuthelo yenu ngiyayizwa futhi ngizwelana kakhulu nani kodwa-ke mathathu

amacala aphezu kwakho ‘njengomholi’. Awukusoconga, awukuzama ukusoconga

nawokucekela phansi impahla yomphakathi, ngalokho-ke uzolala endlini emnyama

Mzilikazi.” uNdlovu esondela kancane. Ngithi ukuhlehla kancane ngime isikhashana

ngiqalaze izinkalo zaseNtanzini, ngizwe umshungu wami ukhumuka kimina bese

ngizibamba ngenhla kwedolo lapho sekunkenketha khona ngenxa yensimbi

abangifaka yona esibhedlela ngesikhathi ngikade ngikhalakathele emseleni

walamapayipi aseNtanzini angaphumi manzi.

Ngiphumule ngamandla. “Nginike amasongo kaSigonyela Ngonyama.” Ngibeka

phansi umbhobho. Badideke abantu emshungwini wami osuvule igebe elikhulu

phakathi kwami nawo yize ngihlehlile. UNdlovu awaphose amasongo, ngiwanqake.

Ngithi ngisafake isandla esisodwa abe esefikile uNgwazi afake isandla sakhe

kwelinye isongo. “Hhowu wakithi, wenzani manje?” ngishaqekile, ngibheke uNgwazi

eziqwini zamehlo. UNgwazi athathe umbhobho ekade sengiwubeke phansi.

“Akukwazi ukuthi ungavalelwa wedwa Mashobane, yize uGatsheni ecabanga ukuthi

kumele. Lomlilo akuwona owakho, awudalwanga nguwena. Nxa bebopha wena,

kuzomele basivalele sonke ngoba lomlilo... ngowezinhliziyo.” uNgwazi edla

imihlathu. “Yebo!!!” usondela wonke lomshungu.

Iyaphela!!!