Mwana wanzeru akondweretsa makolo

Kutsiriza maphunziro ndicho chinthu chimodzi chopambana m'moyo wa munthu. Iyi ndi nthawi imene munthu amatsiriza osangoti maphunziro okhawo ayi, komanso gawo la moyo limene wakhalamo nthawi yaitali ndithu. Komanso ndi nthawi imene munthu amayembekezera kuyamba moyo watsopano. Iyi imakhalanso nthawi yodziwunika ndikudzisanthula pamene unachita bwino komanso pamene sunachite bwino kuti mwina m'moyo wina umene ukukawuyambawo ukachite mosiyana ndi m'mbuyomo. Komanso imakhala nthawi yolingalira za moyo watsopano uli nkudza. Pachifukwachi ena amakhala ndichimwemwe poganizira kuti mwina tsopano asiyana ndi moyo wovuta ndipo akukayamba moyo watsopano. Koma ena amakhalanso ndi nkhawa kuti mwina akukayamba moyo wovuta kusiyana ndi wam'mbuyomu.

Ndikumbuka kuti pamene ine ndinali kutsiriza moyo wa ku sekondale, ndinali ndi chimwemwe kuti tsopano sindidzasambanso madzi ozizira m'mawa ndipo ndizidzadzuka nthawi imene ndikufuna. Panthawiyi ndinaona kuti tsopano ndapeza ufulu wochuluka ndipo moyo wa ku sukulu ndinawuona ngati ukapolo. Komabe ngakhale izi zinali chomwechi, ndinalibe ndi nkhawa pa za moyo wam'tsogolo. Choyamba chinali chakuti kodi mayeso ndikhoza? Nanga ndikhoza bwanji? Ngati sindikhoza bwino, ndidzachita chiyani? Kodi ndidzapeza mwayi wa ntchito? Idzakhala ntchito yanji? Ndizidzalandira ndalama zingati? Nanga ngati ndikhoza bwino, ndidzasankhidwa kupita ku Yunivesite? Kodi ndikasankhidwa kupita ku Yunivesite ndikachita maphunziro anji, nanga adzandipatse malipiro a sukulu ndani? Kodi ndikakhoza n'kudzapeza ntchito yapamwamba? Ndikhukupirirra awa ndi ena mwa mafunso amene achinyamata amene akukonzekera kutsiriza maphunziro awo nthawi ino akulimbana ndi kupeza mayankho ake.

Dzana Loweluka pa 17 July linali tsiku lotsanzikana ndi ophunzira a Fomu 4 pasukulu ya Mlanda ku Ntcheu. Tinayitanidwa ndi mwana wathu Priscilla kuti tikhale nawo pamwambowu. Sitinachione chofunikira kuti tichoke ku Zomba kukafika ku Ntcheu chifukwa cha mwambo umenewu chifukwa panthawi yathu makolo sankaitanidwa ku mwambo wamtunduwu. Komansotu panthawiyi ophunzirawa amakhala asanalembe mayeso awo ndipo sakudziwa ngati adzakhoze kapena ayi. Koma mwanayu anachonderera ndithu kuti ife tipite ndithu tikaonelere mwambowu.

Ndinanyamuka ku Zomba cham'ma 8 koloko m'mawa pamodzi ndi Onyamata ndipo tinafika ku Mlanda cham'mapasiti 10. Titangofika Priscilla anatithamangira akusekerea kudzatilonjera. Apatu n'kuti akukonzekera kulowa mu Holo imene mumachitikira mwambowu. Kenaka mtsikana wina anabwera kudzatitenga n'kutilowetsa muholomo. Kunabweratu makolo ambiri komanso anthu oyimira magulu osiyanasiyana monga mafumu (a T/A Masasa anali kumeneko), a mpingo komanso abizinesi. Mwambo wake unali wosangalatsa kwambiri. Kunali magule, kuyimba, masewero ndi zochitikachita zambiri. Alendo onse pamodzi ndi ophunzira analandira chakudya ndipo chinthu chosangalatsa makolo kudyera limodzi ndi ana awo kusukulu.


Ine ndinasangalala koposa kuona kuti mwana wathu anali mmodzi wochita nawo masewero. Mwana wathu ndi wofatsa kwambiri moti sitinkayembekezera kuti angathe kuyima pagulu la anthu n'kukamba zomveka. Koma ayi ndithu patsikuli iye anali kuchita gawo lowulutsa mawu kunyumba ya mphepo ya Zodiak! Ndinakondwera kwambiri. Koma nthawi yopambana kwambiri imene ine ngati kholo sindidzayiwala chifukwa ndinazizwa kwambiri inali pamene anali kupereka masatiketi kwa ana amene anachita zinthu zopambana panthawi imene anali pasukulupa. Masitifiketi oyamba anaperekedwa kwa mwana aliyense amene anali kutsiriza maphunziro ake pa sukulupa. Koma gulu lachiwiri la masatifiketiwa linali operekedwa kwa okhawo amene anachita bwino kuposa anzawo mu gawo lina lake monga pa phunziro lililonse, mavalidwe, mayimbidwe, ndi zina. Zinali zoseketsa ndizosangalatsa kumva kuti wina anasankhidwa kukhala wolawirira pochita china chilichonse, komanso wina anasankhidwa kukhala munthu wokonda kulangiza anzake. Panalinso mwana wina amene anasankhidwa kuti amakonda kumwetulira ndi kusekerera nthawi zonse. Mwana ameneyu ndi wachimwemwe ndipo kwake nkuseka basi. Mayi ake ndimawadziwa ngatinso munthu wokonda kuseka ndikuseketsa moti sindidadabwe nditamva kuti anasankhidwa kukhala munthu womwetulira nthawi zonse. Panalinso kamtsikana kamene kanasankhidwa munthu wodziwa kuyimba. Mwana ali ndi nthetemya uyo. Atalandira satifiketi yake anapemphedwa kuti angotilawitsako pang'ono luso lake. Holo yonse inamumbera m'manja mwanayu atangoyimba ndime imodzi yokha.

Tsopano olengeza mayina anali kufika kumapeto wa mndandanda ndipo ine ndinali kuganiza zonyamuka poganiza kuti mwambo wopereka masatifiketi tsopano watha. Kenaka ndinangomva kuti “wophunzira amene anachita bwino kuposa onse mu phunziro la Chingerezi, Priscilla Chimtolo.” Ine mtimawu unangoti myuuuu! Ndinadzidzimuka koposa ndipo sindinakhulupirire. Nditacheukira pamene anakhala Priscilla ndinangoona kamwana kanga kakubwera kali mwee kudzandikupatira. Ndinali ndi chimwemwe chodzadza tsaya. Ndinali ngati ndikulota. Ndinaonanso kuti naye ali wosangalala kwambiri kuti anapata mphoto imeneyi komanso chifukwa chakuti ine ndinafika kudzachitira umboni mwambo umenewu. Pamene ndimanyamuka ndinali munthu wosangalala ndipo njira yonse ndinayenda ndi chimwemwe chokhachokha. Ndili ndi chikhulupiriro kuti zimenezi zimuthadiza Priscilla komanso ana ena onse amene anachita bwino kuti alimbikire kuti pamayeso awo otsiriza adzachitenso chimodzimodzi. Mwana wanzeru akondweretsa makolo.

Mnzanga, Happy Wapita

Dzulo madzulo nditaweluka kuntchito monga mwachizolowezi ndinapita kokachita masewero olimbitsa thupi. Ndinabwerako cha m'ma7koloko usiku. Nditafika kunyumba ndinanyamula chisusu changa kuti ndikadzithire madzi kuchotsa chitungu. Polowa kuchipinda chogona ndinasangalala koposa chifukwa ndinapeza a Nyagondwe akundisitila zovala. Nditangolowa kubafa ndinamva kuyitana kuchokera kwa mayi. Ndinatuluka kuti ndikamve kuyitanako.

"Kodi paja Happy dzina la abambo ake ndani? anandifunsa nditangosuzumira pakhomo la kuchipindako. "Nyirenda?" Anapitiriza kufunsa ndisanayankhe funso loyamba lija.

"Ee, bwanji?" ndinafunsa ndi chidwi.
"Wamwalira, akulengeza pa wayilesi kuti Happy Chokoma Nyirenda wa ku Nkhatabay amene amadwala kuchipatala cha Zomba wamwalira."

"Hiii Happy inu. Mpaka wamwalira ndi mutu womwe uja" Ndinasendera ndikukakhala pa bedi kuti mtima ukhazikike.

Happy anali mnzanga ndipo tinadziwana m'chaka cha 2003 kuno ku Zomba. Tinadziwana chifukwa cha mnzanga wina Jonah Mphanda amene ine ndinaphunzira maye ku sekondale ku Mtendere. Panthawiyo Jonah ndi Happy ankagwira ntchito ku Interaide. Kenaka awiriwa anasiya ntchito ku Interaide ndipo Happy anayamba kugwira ntchito ku Spar.

Sabata zitatu zapitazo, Jonah anandiyimbira foni kundifotokozera kuti Happy wagonekedwa kuchipatala ndipo akudandaula mutu. Tsiku lomwelo ndinapita kukamuona ndipo tinacheza nandifotokozera kuti mutu ndi umene ukumusautsa koposa. Ndakhala ndikukamuona koma zimaoneka kuti matendawa sanasinthe mpaka pamene dzulo chakum'mawa amamwalira.

Happy amachokera ku Nkhatabay. Ndidzamukumbukira Happy chifukwa chokonda kuseka ndi nthabwala. Tikakumana timakonda kukamba zoselewula ndipo mwa dzina lake iye anali wosangalala nthawi zonse.

Mzimu wako uwuse mu Mtendere Happy.

oTenderetu

Nthawi zina ndikakhala phe, nzeru zimandithera ndikaganiza kuti kodi imfa imabwera bwanji pamoyo wamunthu ndipo kuti kodi analenga imfa ndani? Nanga kodi munthu akafa amapita kuti? Mwina nthawi zambiri pamene tili ndi moyo wangwiro, zonse zili myaaa timayiwalako zoti kunja kuno anthu amafa n'kutsikira kuli chete osadzamutemanso gaga. Koma zovutazi zikagwa pakati pathu mpamene timadzidzimuka n'kumati kodi paja moyowu umatha ndithu. Ine ndimaona kuti nthawi imene mnzathu akuyikidwa m'manda ndiyo nthawi yowawitsa chifukwa umakhala umboni woti basi mnzathuyu apa lake watseka. Nthawi zambiri ikafika nthawi imeneyi misozi imatsika ndithu ngakhale malirowo akhale kuti sakundikhudza kwenikweni. Imfa imene mpaka pano imandipweteka kwambiri ndi yamzanga, msuwani wanga, mchimwene wanga, Tenderetu (Tiyenderetu). Imfa imeneyi imandipatsa maganizo ndi mafunso ambiri amene mpaka lero sinditha kupeza mayankho ake.

Ine ndi Tenderetu tinadziwana m'chaka cha 1983 kumudzi kwathu ko Mbuna ku Lilongwe. Chaka chimenecho makolo anga anaganiza zoti mayi anga pamodzi ndi ine komanso mng'ono wanga Gregory ndi alongo anga Jestina ndi Chisomo tipite kumudzi kuti amayi akayang'anire ntchito za kumunda ndipo ife tikaphunzire sukulu komweko. Iyi ndi nthawi ina yowawitsa m'moyo mwanga chifukwa mpaka pano sindimvetsa chimene makolo anga anachitira zimenezi, kutisiyitsa sukulu yapamwamba, nyumba ndi moyo wabwino kupita kumudzi. Iyitu inalinso nthawi imene kunabadwa abale anga ena awiri amapasa, Symon ndi Sibongire. Kubadwa kwa ana amenewa sindidzakuyiwala chifukwa ine ndi amene ndinali mlezi wothandiza amayi anga. Lachitatu lililonse ndinkajomba kusukulu kuwaperekeza amama kusikelo ya anawa ku Chipatala cha Nkhoma chomwe chili pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 10 kuchokera kwathu.

Titangofika kumudzi ko Mbuna kuchokera ku Dzalanyama Forest komwe bambo anga ankagwira ntchito panthawiyo, tinaona zinthu zambiri zosintha chifukwa aka kanali koyamba kwa ife kukhala kumudzi motero sitinasangalale nkomwe kuti tizigona m'nyumba ya udzu, kukakhala pansi kusukulu pamene tinasiya abambo okha m'nyumba yabwino ya malata. M'mawa kutacha ndinapita kukakhala pakhonde la nyumba ya agogoa anga okondedwa, Onganga (mzimu wawo uziwusa mumtendere ndipo ndidzalembanso za gogo ameneyu, amene ndimamukumbukira nthawi zonse chifukwa cha mtimwa wake wachifundo. Timakusowani Onganga). Ndikuothera kadzuwa pakhonde paja ndinaona kamnyamata kamsinkhu wanga katakhala pakhonde la nyumba ya Omayi (achemwali a amayi anga). Maso athu atangoti tha, tonse tinamwetulirana chifukwa tinazindikirana.

Tenderetu anali mphwawo wa bambo anga aakulu. a Mapondera (amuna a Omayi, achemwali a amama). A Mapondera ankachokera ko Mdzinga mudzi umene uli tsidya lina la mudzi wathu kungodumpha msewu wawukulu. Iwowa anali kukhala m'mudzi mo Mbuna ngati kuchikamwini. Amayi a Tenderetu anamwalira pakati pa 1980 ndi 1981. Choncho atangomwalira mayi ake, amalume akewo, aMapondera, anamutenga iye pamodzi ndi abale ake Nana ndi Maseko kuti azikakhala nawo ku Chongoni Forest ku Dedza komwe iwo ankagwira ntchito panthawiyo. Abambo anga anagwirakonso ntchito ku Chongoni ndipo ndikumene ine ndinabadwira koma tinasamukako 1980 kupita ku Dzalanyama. A Mapondera atapuma ntchito 1982 anakakhala kumudzi ko Mbuna pamodzi ndi mwana wawo Richard ndi aphwawo aja, Tenderetu, Nana ndi Maseko.

“Alick” anandiyitana Tenderetu nandikodola. Nthawi yomweyo ndinapita kukamupatsa moni ndikumufunsa kuti ali kalasi yanji. Iye anali sitandede 3 pamene ine ndinali sitandede 5. M'zaka zakubadwa iye anali wamkulu ndi zaka ziwiri koma tinali ofanana misinkhu. Kuchokera tsiku limenelo Tenderetu anali mnzanga waponda apa ine mpondepo. Sitinkasiyana kulikonse. Kusukulu tinkapitira limodzi, kuwelukira limodzi, kusewerera limodzi, kudyera komanso kugonera limodzi. Nthawi imeneyo tinkagona kumphala pamodzi ndi amalume anga aChadza. Usiku pogona tinkafunda bulangete limodzi, ndipo nthawi zambiri timacheza mpaka mwina aChadza kumachita kutiletsa kuti tigone. Panthawiyi n'kuti iwowo anali mu sitandede 8 koma anali kubwereza kachisanu ndi katatu. Tikakondwa kwambiri tinkafika pomaphaphalitsana makofi kapena kutibulana zibakera ndithu mpaka wina athawe. Izi zinkangokhala zosewera ndipo sitimadana ngakhale wina atamenya mnzake kwambiri. Nthawi yamango itakwana ine ndi Tenderetu tinasula timipeni kuchokera ku misomali ya 12 ichesi kuti tizikasendera maboloma. Timati tikangokonza kuti lero tikakhaulitsa mango timayambira ku Bathe (kumunda kwathu), kuchoka apo tili ku kuseli kwa Bathe (kumunda kwa Omayi) mpaka kukamalizira ku Dondo (kumunda kwa amalume ake a Tenderetu). Tikamabwera kumeneko mimbazi zili mzuu, kukhuta, pakamwapa pali noninoni, m'manja monsemu midondolozi ya madzi a mango italemberera. Tikatero ndiye kuti nsima yamadzulo kumangokhala kuyikandakanda basi usiku kumangogeya ndi kutuluka panja kukataya madzi.

Kumapeto a chaka chimenecho titatsekera sukulu komanso titakolola dzinthu abambo anga ananena kuti tonse tibwerere ku Dzalanyama. Inali nthawi yovuta kwa ine kuti ndisiyane ndi mnzanga wapamtima. Komabe sindafune kuphunziranso kumudzi. Nditafika ku Dzalanyama ndinamulembera Tenderetu kalata kumufotokozera momwe ndinayendera. Koma nthawi imeneyo kunali kovuta kuti tizilemberana makalata pafupafupi chifukwa tinali pamsinkhu umene sitinkatha kudzipezera ndalama zogulira masitampa. Kwa zaka zitatu ine sindipitenso kumudzi ndipo sindinaonanenso ndi Tenderetu.

M'chaka cha 1986 abambo anga ananditenga kuti akandionetse kwawo ku Chitundu ku Dedza. M'banja mwathu palibe amene ankadziwa kwawo kwa abambo anga ndipo amayi akuti anapitako kotsiriza m'chaka cha 1976. Choncho ine ndinasangalala kuti ndidzapita kukaona kwawo kwa abambo anga chifukwa kunali abale awo amene ankakonda kudzationa koma ife tinali tisanaone kumene ankachokera. Popita kumeneko tinayima kumudzi ko Mbuna. Aka kanali koyamba kuonana ndi Tenderetu m'zaka zitatu. Pochoka ku Chitundu ine ndinatsalira kumudzi kuti ndichezeko ndi mnzanga. Tonse tinali titakula tsopano, zosewera zathu zinali zitasintha. Panalibenso zomenyana. Tsopano timangosewera mpira basi. Panthawiyi n'kuti Tenderetu atasintha dzina, kukhala Sosten. Komanso anali atameta kugule ndye ena ankamuyitana kuti oTenderetu kapena oSositeni monga mwa mwambo wake. Amalume ake anamwalira chaka chomwecho (1986) m'mwezi wa March. Koma pamene ankamwalira n'kuti atamupatsa ndalama yoyambira bizinesi yogula mafuta a galimoto kwa magalimoto odutsa mumsewu popeza mudzi wathu uli m'mbali mwamsweu wawukulu wa Blantyre-Lilongwe. Iyi inali bizinesi imene inali yolula oanthawi imeneyo. Panthawiyi nkuti amalume ake atasamuka m'mudzi ndikukamanga nyumba yaikulu m'mbali mwa msewu. Amalume ake asanamwalire anapempha oMayi kuti iwo akadzamwalira adzasunge ana onse atatu amasiye) Tenderetu, Nana ndi Maseko). Choncho Tenderetu anapitiriza kukhala ndi oMayi komanso msuwani wake weniweni, Richard. Ndinapemha kuti chaka chimenecho ndiphunzire kumudzi komweko koma abambo anga anandikaniza. Nditacheza kwa mwezi umodzi ine ndinabwerera ku Dzalanyama kukapitiriza sukulu. Nditalemba mayeso a Sitandede 8 mu 1987 ndinapempha kuti ndikachitenso tchuthi kumudzi ndipo anandiloleza. Chaka chimenecho tinacheza kwambiri ndi Tenderetu. Apatu tsopano iye anali kupeza ndalama zambiri chifukwa cha bizinesi ija. Nthawi zina ndinali kumuthandiza kukochola magalimoyo komanso kupopa ndikunyamula mafuta. Chaka chotsatira ine ndinasankhidwa kupita ku Mtendere secondary school ku Dedza. Uwu unali mwayi wanga chifukwa ulendo uliwonse popita ndipobwerera kusukulu ndimayima kumudzi kwathu kwa masiku angapo ndipo izi zinandipatsa mwayi womacheza ndi Tenderetu pafupipafupi mpaka nditamaliza maphunziro anga mu 1992. Nthawi zina popita kusukulu ankandipatsako ndalama zokadyera ndipo ulendo wina anandigulirako malaya. Ndinanyadira koposa.

Nditangolemba mayeso anga a Fomu 4 ndinapempha makolo anga kuti ndikadikire mayeso kumudzi. Iwo anandilora ndipo ndinasangalala kwambiri. Nthawi imeneyi ndinamuthandiza kwambiri Tenderetu pa bizinesi yake ya mafuta. Analinso kugula ndi kugulitsa mbewu, ufa ndi zinthu zabiri zopezeka m'magalimoto odutsa. Tenderetu sanasowe chilichonse. Anali kusamalira pakhomopo tsopano ndiye. Anali wopatsa kwambiri. Mudzi wonse unamudalira. Iye anali wakhama pantchito ndipo samalola zibwana kapena zaulesi. Panthawiyi n'kuti Sadam Husein yemwe anali mtsogoleri wa dziko lija la Iraq atatchuka kwambiri chifukwa chokaputa dziko la Kuwait m'chaka cha 1990. Tenderetu anali munthu wokonda kumvera wayilesi kuti azimva zomwe zikuchitika kunjaku. Kulimba mtima kwa Saddam kunamusangalatsa ndipo chifukwa chakuti naye sanafune kuti anthu azimutola poti ndimwana wolemera anadzitcha kuti Sadam. Iye sikuti anali waukali kapena wokakala moyo ngati Sadam koma anamusilira Sadam chifukwa cholimba mtima. Dzina la Sadam anatchuka nalo kwambiri.

Mayeso anga atatuluka ndinasankhidwa kukapitiriza maphunziro ku Chancelllor College. Apa tsopano ndinadziwa kuti tidzatalikirana ndi Tenderetu. Chaka chomwecho iye anasiya sukulu mu Sitandede 8 ndikupitiriza bizinesi yake. Anapeza malo ake ndikumangapo nyumba. Mu 1995 Tenderetu anakwatira. Ukwati unachitika ndili kusukulu motero sindinathe kukhala nawo. Ndinakhumbira kwambiri. Ngakhale Tenderetu anakwatira, anapitiriza kuthandiza oMayi komanso anthu ambiri am'mudzi mwathu ngakhalenso achilendo. Anapala maubwezi ambiri chifukwa cha bizinezi yake. Analimbikira kulima komanso kugula mbewu zosiyanasiyana. Atazindikira kuti bizinesi ya mafuta inali yosadalilika chifikwa cholondedwa ndi apolisi iye anaganzia zotsekula sitolo. Anamanga sitolo yake yayikulu momwe munali katundu wosiyanasiyana. Anthu ambiri anali kudzagula katundu ena pangongole. Tsiku lina tikucheza nditapita kukamuona kuchokera ku Zomba anandiuza kuti nthawi zina saona kufunika kwa maphunziro chifukwa aphunzitsi amene an'kamuphunzitsa ku pulayimale anali kuvutika kwambiri ndipo kuti ena mwa iwo anali kulephera kubweza ngongole zimene anakatenga musitolo yake. Iye ananena kuti ana sangalimbikire sukulu ngati aphunzitsi akukakongola ndalama kwa anthu amene sanapitirize maphunziro. Pena ndinagwirizana naye makamaka ngati timapita kusukulu kuti tidzakhalae ndi moyo wabwino. Koma nkhani ya aphunzitsi ndi ina yapadera. Tenderetu anali ndi mfundo zake ndipo anali wokonda mtsutso pa nkhani zosiyanasiyana. Chinthu china chimene iye ankakanitsitsa kuti sangachite ndiye kusunga ndalama zake ku banki. Mawu ake anali akuti iye saona chifukwa choti azikakhalira pmazele chifukwa cha ndalama zake zomwe.

Pasitolo pake panali pachibulo. Sipankasowa munthu. Panali posewerera ntchuwa, panali pogulitsira nzimbe, nthochi, panali pomwera fanta, panali powusira anthu apulendo. Ena mwa iwo maka oyenda panjinga kuchokera mitunda ya Chitundu anali kusungitsa njinga zawo n'kukwera magalimoto wa m'tawuni. Tenderetu anali mlerakhungwa chifukwa sanasankhe anthu ocheza nawo, akulu, ana, achinyamata, olemera, osauka, owadziwa, achilendo. Chifukwa cha mtimawu anthu tsopano anamutcha Bakili. Chifukwa cha ichi, anthu anamudalira koposa. Anamusankha kukhala wapampando wa sukulu komiti komanso wapampando wa chipani ku Bathe Area. Uwutu sunali udindo wamba. Nthawi imeneyo phungu woymira derali anali Wolemekezeka a Louis Chimango moti pamene iwowa anali kuyendera derali aakuluakulu ake amene amayenda nawo anali a Tenderetu. Chinali chinthu chopambana kuwona mnzanga atafika pamenepa. Nthawi zambiri tikamacheza anali kukamba nkhani za ndale ndi chidwi ndipo kawirikawiri anali kufuna kudziwa kuti ine ndili mbali iti chifukwa chakuti ndimakhala kummwera. “Ndale zikuyenda bwanji kum'mweraku?” Ankakonda kufunsa choncho tikakumana. Iye ankakonda kupitiriza kunena kuti, “kunotu ndiye ndi Kongiresi basi, ife onzathu ndoChimango basi, tambala wakuda! Ochawa songawine kuno” Tikatere tinkaseka.

M'mwezi wa July, 2004 mwana wanga atagonekedwa kuchipatala . Tsiku lina chakumadzulo ndinkakonzekera kukamuona mwanayu pamene ndinalandira telefoni yochokera kwa mchimwene wanga Richard Mapondera amene ankakhala ku Blantyre. 'Tenderetu wamwaliratu" anatero Richard, mosisima. 'Wagundidwa ndi galimoto..." anapitiriza. Ndinaponya foni pansi n'kulowa kuchipinda. Ndinalira mokweza. Thupi langa lonse linanyowa ndi chitungu cha chisoni ndi mantha. Sindinakhulupirire kuti zingatheke kuti mnzanga Tenderetu n'kumwalira. Patatha ola limodzi ndinatuluka kuchipinda n'kunyamuka kupita kuchipatala kukaona mwana wanga. Nditafika, mkazi wanga anandilandira ndichimwemwe kufuna kunditsimikizira kuti mwana anali kupeza bwino tsopano. Koma anadabwa kuona kuti misozi inali kutsika m'masaya mwanga. Anandigwira n'kundiuza kuti ndisade nkhawa mwana ali bwino ndipo amatulutsa tsiku lotsatira. Ndinamuwuza kuti Tenderetu wamwalira. Sindinathe kuwagwira mawu ndipo izi zinadabwitsa anthu ena onse m'chipatalamo chifukwa anayamba kuganiza kuti mwina mwana uja wamwalira. Tinatuluka panja.

M'mawa, Richard uja anabwera kudzanditenga pa galimoto yake kupita kumudzi. Njira yonse tinayenda mwachinunu. Titangowoloka Diamphwe tonse misozi inayamba kutsika. Galimoto isanayime nkomwe azimayi anali atayiwunjirira uku akuloza tsidya lamsewu akulira mokweza. Zinali zomvetsa chisoni. galimoto yonyamula mowa wa Chibuku imene inatenga moyo wa mbale wanga inali gada! tsidya la msewu moyang'anana ndi siwa. Mtima wanga unasweka ndipo ndinalakala nditakangoyatsa galimotoyo. Azimayi analira mokweza ngati akuti 'chonde kabwezereni ku chigalimotocho.' Titapuma tinakazungulira galimotoyo yomwe tsopano apolisi anali kuyilondola powopa mkwiyo wa anthu.

Imfa ya Tenderetu inali yomvetsa chisoni. Patsikulo, akuti chakum'mawa kunafika galimoto yogulitsa buledi kuchokera ku tawuni ku Lilongwe. Ndipo ogulitsa bulediwo sanamupeze Tenderetu ndipo anangosiya buledi n'kunena kuti ndalama adzatenga madzulo popotoloka kuchokera ku Dedza. Galimotoyo inabweradi madzulo cha m'mapasiti 6. Inamupeza Tenderetu ali m'nyumba ndipo atamva hutala iye anatuluka ndi mwana wake m'manja kukayankhulana ndi wogulitsa buledi uja. Atauzidwa mtengo wa buledi amene anasiyayo iye anabwerera m'nyumba kukatenga ndalama. Pobwerera mwana uja anamusiya ndi amayi ake. Atafika pagalimotopo anaona kuti mbali inayo yamtunda wa Lilongwe kunali kubwera galimoto yonyamula mowa wa Chibuku yomwe inali pa liwiro lalikulu komanso linali litataya mbali yake nkulunjika mbali imene inayima galimoto ya bulediyo. Ataona izi, Tenderetu anaganiza zothawira mbali inayo. Asanamalize n'kudmphira mbali inayo, chigalimoto chija chinamuvungira limodzi, kum'khwekhwereza n'kukamuponya pafupifupi pamtunda wa malipande 100 uku chigalimotocho chikunkhulira mpaka kukagudubuzika m'munda. Mdima n'kuti utagwa. Ndiye kunali kuyitana kwinaku anthu akusaka Tenderetu. Pamene Tenderetu amapezeka kumizele anali atamwalira ndipo thupi lake litanyenyeka kwambiri. Adapita n'chigalimoto Tenderetu.

Kunali namtindi wa anthu patsiku loyika maliro a Tenderetu. Anthu anapereka maumboni a moyo wa Tenderetu. A kumpingo, kusukulu, abizinesi, kuchipani komanso makasitomala. Ena odutsa pamagalimoto awo amati akamva zoti malirowo anali a Tenderetu anali kuyima kukhuza nawo ndikusiya chipepeso. Ambiri anabwera kudzakhala nawo pamwambo woyika malirowo. Mwa anthu ongodutsawo wina anapempha kuti ayankhuleko m'malo mwa anthu ena onse amene ankamudziwa Tenderetu. Iwo anali kungodutsa paulendo wawo wopita ku Lilongwe koma anayima ataona kuti pachitika zovuta. Atamva kuti womwalirayo anali Tenderetu, sanamvetse. M'kuyankhula kwawo iwo anati: “ife tatayika chifukwa cha imfa imeneyi. Ife mwana uyu ankang'unga mnzathu, sankaona kuti tachokera kuti, tavala chiyani, tili ndi chiyani, koma an'kangotilandira n'kumacheza nafe ngati akucheza ndi anzake. Timayima panyumba pakepa n'kumwa madzi, kusungitsa njinga zathu n'kumapita ulendo wa ku Lilongwe, pobwera amatilandira mwaulemu. Ndiye lero n'kumati Tenderetu wamwalira? Tatayika ife! Bakili wathu wapita, ineee! Tikapumira kuti ifeee..." ndiye panabukatu chiliro; “Bakili wathu wapita, Bakili wathu watisiya ife.”

Lero pamalo a Tenderetu ndi pabwinja pomvetsa chisoni. Mkazi wake anabwerera kwawo ndi ana ake atatu ndipo anakwatiwanso ndi mwamwuna wina. Mng'ono wake, Maseko anatsala pamlopo anagulitsa malata zitseko ndi katundu wina yense amene anasiyidwa. Naye anamwalira atamenyedwa chifukwa chakuba. Nyumba zonse zinagwa. Mlongo wake Nana anabwerera kwawo ndipo anakwatiwa. Koma ndidzakumbukira Tenderetu nthawi zonse ndipo palibe amene angafufute Tenderetu m'moyo mwanga. “Ndimakusowa mnzanga Tenderetu. Ambuye asunge mzimu wako mu mtendere.”

Easter 2009 in Dzalanyama Hills

After a heavy work schedule from January to March which saw me traveling between Zomba and Lilongwe almost every week, I decided to use Easter to relax a bit before embarking on another phase. The lake looked a familiar destination. We just wanted a new experience. We therefore decided to head to the mountains and appreciate the other side of Malawi's beauty. I grew up in the forest and mountains and thought tracing my roots wouldn't be a bad idea after all. The boys hadn't been to any thick forest or mountains save for the Liwonde National Park and Mulanje. So I convinced them that Dzalanyama would be an ideal destination but on condition that we would proceed to Mchinji where they wanted to see their granny and cousins. We set off from Zomba on Good Friday and spent a night in the Capital. In the morning we had to make some payments at the Lodge's booking office in Old Town. I discovered my spare tyre was flat and had to ensure I had it in perfect condition before we left. I knew the road we were to use would never be in good condition considering the fact the were still in the rain season. At some point I nearly changed my mind and head back to the lake. I knew the road ahead was one of the worst. But the boys' excitement and my desire to share my past with my family drove us on. So we started off from the Capital at noon after fixing the tyre and refilling the wallet. We took the Chigwiri road, through Maliri, Tanga, and KuDam (Malingunde). Memories! memories! I remembered how at the age of 14 I had to walk 18 miles from Dzalanyama to Malingunde CCAP to do Chisonyezo with my friend Manyozo. I dont know if I would be able to walk that distance again today. It was just normal then.

At Malingunde we took the Phirilanjuzi road and drove to Ndaula, then popularly known as Chimutu, after the then famous Deputy Speaker of Parliamnet and MP for the area, Chimutu Nkhoma. We turned South West to Chiputu, our former trading Centre. From Chiputu the Dzalanyama mountain range engulfed in dark green came into full view. The magnificent Mtsotsolo mountain stood imposingly above the other smaller hills. We drove on to the boundary road until we reached the GATE. A lady came to open the gate for us of course after some enquiries about our purpose of the visit. The face looked familiar to me. I later learnt that we were pupils at the Forest school in the 80s and she was now working as the gate keeper (since 1989). I recalled how she used to star on the running track in the 100 metre race. Her father was a well known Ward Counsellor.
We were 5Km away from our final destination and we drove through the thick lush and nothing seemed to have changed in the sixteen years I had been away except the condition of the road which was almost unusable. Then we came to Katete bridge. Memories memories! It was here on this bridge that friend learning how to ride a bike plunged into the fast flowing river from the bridge. We all ran away leaving him alone to take home the extensively damaged borrowed bike, which was extensively damaged! Pure childishness. I told my Onyamata we used to fish in Katete and Mkantha streams and they looked forward to fishing (we had brought with us some mbedza). We finally got to the Dzalanyama Forest Lodge and were well received by the resident staff. I couldn't wait to re-write history. Immediately we descended on to the stream running below the lodge. There is a 'swimming pool on the river. In all the days I stayed in Dzalanyama we were never allowed to swim in this swimming pool as it was for azungu only who came to the lodge. Now there we were! Azungu! So with Onyamata we partied in the cold Mkantha waters. We later fished upstream. It was so exciting.
In the afternoon we visited my old school. It was so heart breaking. No single desk no single louver on the windows from Standard 1 to 8! Imagine! What a pity! I couldn't believe this was the same school that was the envy of everyone who visited it in its prime. It was modeled on a school in the UK and attracted many tourists. In our days we partnered with Bishop Mackenzie who we considered our equals then. We walked around around and noted that the interior had been renovated and painted and that the flash toilets were operational. I later read in the Lodge's lounge that operators of thelodge had solicited funds to renovate the school and built two boarding hostels. I was delighted with this development. Later in the evening we visited some relatives we left 15 years ago. The most exciting moment came when we visited our old home of 14 years and found our old neighbour of 14 years still in the same house. We had stories to tell each other. None of their children with whom we grew up and played together were there. They were all independent now. There were more surprises to come. As we were chatting under the big tree a familiar face appeared from nowhere, smiling. I couldn't mistake him. He was my standard 3 classmate. We hugged and laughed. I later learnt that he only went up to form 2 with his studies and later picked a job with the forestry department as a Forest Guard. He was a proud father of a form 1 boy. Dziko ili. Wa ife ali Std 3! He bought me four bottles of Coke. Thanks man. We visited my cousin the following morning. She was down with malaria. We were told that she had not taken any medication as the clinic had closed down so many years ago. The nearest clinic was at Ndaula about 15 km away and could not attend to patients on a Saturday. So there she was shivering and sweating just waiting for natural healing! We were also informed the department had no car to service the staff. Worse still, the boss is now based in town, 90km away and only go there when there are important matters. We wondered how people survived under such conditions. We were informed Kabaza is the only mode of transport to the rest of the world. Zachisoni. This is a department that used to have five vehicles at one point. In those days there was a provision for a lorry to take women to the maize mill twice a week and for shopping in town or any market of their choice once a month. All this is gone. All the feeder roads were impassable! Something must be wrong. somewhere. As we left around 11 am on Sunday, I had mixed feelings about the trip. And as if to wind it up in grand style, our truck stuck in the stinking muddy waters on the boundary road. It took 2 hours and ten people to get the car out.
We made a stopover to cleanse ourselves at Diverson's place near Chipitu. Diverson was former schoolmate and had grown into a big man now and doing well. He had parked two cars in front of his his home. We noted solar panel on the roof of his house. He had plenty of tobacco too. He was following his daddy's foot steps. We were very proud of each other. He later introduced me to a woman he claimed to be his sister. I didn't recognize her instantly but later I remembered she was my classmate. She proudly told me her first born was in form four at Chiradzulu Secondary school! Wow! She gave me boiled nsawa and asked us to wait for maungu. We thanked her and Diverson for their hospitality and immediately left for Mchinji. For me it was Easter to be remembered in the years to come.