Born in Masvingo Province in Mwenezi District, Idzai Iris Mushayabasa holds a Bachelor of Arts General Degree (English and Linguistics) from the University of Zimbabwe and has taught at Vurasha Secondary School in Mberengwa, Mwenezi High School and Chibaya Secondary School in Masvingo Province. She is a new poet and writer who has three of her poems, Ndotamba Mutambiroyi, Panzvimbo and Wotokwinya Chimhandara  published in Dzinonyandura, Svinga Renduri an anthology by  263 set for 2016 -17 Advanced Level public examinations. Her passion for the advancement and promotion of languages and African culture among today’s youth is strongly painted in her poems and writings on social networks.Her poems  probe into issues related to culture and identity. She also gives remarkable attention to women’s problems especially in marriage

 

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Zvipenga Zvipenga

NaIdzai Iris Mushayabasa

 

Kwaingovawo zvako kuda kuti guyo gwairira mufoni make gupere, zvaaimonereka noruzhowa gwomusha waVaSvondo, kana Melvon aida kukasira kupinda mumusha umu aigona kupoya napakawanda chaizvo. Chero hazvo musha uyu wakanga wakashoshewa noruzhowa, wakanga wareruka zvikuru zvokuti zvipfuwo navasina matyira vakanga vava kuita madiro. Ruzhowa gwacho gwakanga gwashakara gwava namaburi-maburi nokushaiwa vanomutsa. Naiyeyu Melvon ndiye umwewo wemajaya akanga arerusa musha uyu achipindira chizukurusikana chopo icho chakanga changova nhanzva yeraini. Aidai hake kufamba saanotsika panogogona, achipota achiita sokusikizira nokurasha mavoko zvaitaridza kuti zvairira mufoni make zvaimunakidza, asi nyaya yaaifambira yakanga iri huru.

Ivo VaSvondo yakanga vangova hayo harahwa yakazvigarira pamba. Makore mazhinji ovutsva bwavo akanga aperera mumigodhi yeWenera. Nguva yavo zhinji yakanga iri yokungogara pamumvuri vachiterera nyama dzavo. Vaipota havo vachimbomira-mira kuda kubata icho nechocho, asi hapana chakanga chichavonekwa chaishanduka pavaive vabata. Dzimba dzavo dzakanga dziri dzovupwa dzakavuviwa nesamende iyo yakanga yopera nokukwakwanuka pasina anodzosera.Zviruvu zvakanga zvakotamira kuda kuwira mutate, nhungo nembariro zvichipavo VaChipiti mudzimai wavo basa rokutsvaira nokuda kwezvifusi. VaChipiti vakanga vongoitavo makumbo okuzvuzvurudza pamunhanga, simba rakanga rakainda kwakainda makore. Mumvana wavo Sibongile ndiye akanga avaremedza nezvizukuru zvisina mitupo zvaaingofamba achiworera samapfura okubikisa mukumbi. Vaingohwa kuti aingotenderera achiita zvemisika mumaguta madoko eZimbabwe. Dangwe rake raiva iye Lydia  uyo akanga angova mvana mubhurugwa.

Chimiro chaiva nomusha waVaSvondo ndicho chaiva nemisha mizhinji yomudunhu iri. Misha yakanga yangosara ndumure navakweguru, vanotemwa dzinobvinza ropa vakanga vayambukira kunyika dzakakomberedza nyika yeZimbabwe kutsvaka mafuromanyoro. Zhara yakanga yafunya chisero mudzimba zhinji mudunhu iri .Zhara yaive ichisakiswa nekusana kwakanaka kwemvura, kurima mbesa dzinopokana nemamiriro ekuzhe enzvimbo pamwe nokuti vane simba rekushandira ivhu raiva roda vane samba rekutimba zvuru pamwe nekuva nemari yekutenga futireza. Kana usina danga ren’ombe zvaipa kushupa kuti ukohwe kuvhu jecha iri iro raive rashakara zvakanyanya.

Pane zvinhu zvakawanda kwazvo zvakanga zvashanduka pamararamiro avanhu kwete mudunhu iri roga, asi namamwe akaritenderedza. Zvirongwa zvamatunhu zvakaita somikomondera kana kuti fudhu fo weki zvakanga zvisisiko. Muzvirongwa izvi ndipo paya vanhu vaiita mabasa okuchengetedza zviwanikwa zvomunharaunda vachipiwa zvokudya nehurumende. Vaisima miti kuitira kuti ivhu rakakorera rinokudza zvirimwa nokukodza mafuro risakukugwa nemvura. Vaivharavo makoronga nokugadzira migwagwa, kuchera matsime, kuvakira zvibhorani,nokukura madhamhu kana azara jecha. Zvino namamiriro akanga akaita vufumi gwenyika hurumende yakanga isingachakwanisi kutsigira zvirongwa izvi saka nenyika pachayo yakanga yangova gwenga zvaro risina tariro mariri. Vupenyu gwemudunhu iri gwakanga gwangova mazvake mazvake pakuti chero hazvo vanhu vaimbopota vachisanganisiwa nomisangano yamatongegwo enyika nepavaipiwa zvokudya namasangano okuzhe akazvimiririra asinei nezvomatongegwo enyika, pakanga pasisina kubatana kwakasimba pakati pedzimhuri. Hapana akanga achadana umwe kuhumwe chero yei zvayo, nokuti hapanavo akanga acharima pakakura pangada mavoko akawanda.

VaSvondo vagere havo pasi pomumango kudai, zuva raipisa zvakafurikidza zvakanga zvataugwa nomumawairesi. Muti wavo uyu waiva namashizha anoverengeka, asi mutana uyu akanga asingarihwi, nokuti fungwa dzakanga dzongogara dziri kure kure. Vaigara vachishushikana nenyaya yedangwe ravo Simba uyo akanga arovera kunyika yeSouth Africa uko kwavaingohwa kuti akanga akatorana nemukadzi wechiZulu. Zvaigara zvichivadya mwoyo kuti sei akanga asina chido chokuhovavonavo kana kuhovataridzavo mhuri yake. Ndosaka chero havo vaitevera Melvon namaziso avo achivavarira kupinda paruvazhe gwavo kudai, zvisina kumbogara zvabata fungwa dzavo. Vaimuvona havo nameso, asi mufungwa dzavo haana kupinda. Vaiziva vukama gwakanga gwuri pakati pake nomuzukuru wavo Lydia, asi vakanga vageza mavoko panyaya dzomumusha mavo souya mutongi wokupfuvudza nyaya yaJeso muBhaibheri. Vaifunga sokuti VaChipiti nomumvana wavo vakanga vava kuita shayisano navo pamusha wavo zvikuru panyaya yaSibongile yokungovuya achisiya vana vake pamba pavo. Vaivonazve sokuti iye Lydia uyu akanga achangohotoravo vunhu gwamai vake.

VaChipiti naLydia vaingofoyana vari mumba yokubikira. Zvinukuna zvaLydia zvakanga zvabudira seri kweruzhowa kunofuzhura sezvo vakanga vachangopedza kudya kwamasikati mumusha umu. Huku nembwa zvakanga zvaroveravo ikoko zvichiyengerera kuti ndumure idzi dzipedze zvigokasva nekuchovora pabviwa. Nemamiriro ezvinhu mumusha umu kwakanga kusisina zviyo zvokukushira huku kana sadza rokuchasiira mbwa. Matura netsapi zvakanga zvava zvipameso, vupenyu gwangova gwemapepabhegi. Zvino mupunga hauna makwengo angamanyigwa nembwa seesadzazve, vuye chero wasara haukushigwi huku, asi unofunigwa kuisiwa pakachengetedzeka. VaChipiti chakanga changova chijairira chokugara mumba yokubikira nokuti kugara pazhe pavaivonekwa naVaSvondo zvaivagozhera. Kwete nekuvaremekedza, asi vakanga vanyara nekutevegwa nemaziso. Hapana pavaivonekwa vachitaudzana zvakanaka sevanhu vanogara pamusha umwe.

VaChipiti naLydia vaihwanana, kwete nokuti vaiwirirana pane zvose, asi kuti vaipedza nguva zhinji vari vose. Dzimwe nguva muzukuru aivonekwa akwindimara achipfungaira sokuzhe kune guti zvachechenyana nambuya vacho,kunyanyanyanya panyaya dzevusimbe gwaiye Lydia. Akanga ane chifoni chaakanga atengegwa namai vake icho aingogara akambambashira zvaisahwisisika nambuya nasekuru vake. Vaiti ndicho chomupa vusimbe. Pamakore gumi namashanu aifanigwa kuva achiinda kusekondari savamwe vezera rake, asi nokushaiwa anokaidzavo zvine simba akanga angova munhu wapamba. Mai vake vakanga vasinavo simba nazvo zvokuti chero pavakazvihwa kuti aramba chikoro vakangoti zviri kwaari ramangwana nderake. VaChipiti ndivo vakanga vongogwisa kuti dei agona mabasa apamba zvaakanga otaridza kuti oda zvavanhurume kuti chero akawana anonunganavo naye agone kutega mapfihwa.

Melvon akapetera tambo dzezvomuzheve zvefoni yake achisvika pakanga pagere VaSvondo. Vakahwa munhuhwi wamafuta waakanga azora uchivati tiba ndokunoti pachifuva haka mukweguru ndokutanga kukoshora. Munhuhwi wamafuta wakatevegwa nomumvuri wake uyo wakanovamhara vakahwa muviri wavo uchidzoka kuita mudukuduku. Pamwe ndosaka vakanga vasingafariri vakomana vechiduku ava.Vaiita kuti mutana uyu ahwe sokuti achembera, vuye haasisina simba mumuviri. Melvon aivarangaridza Simba zvakanyanya nokuda kwokuti zera rakanga rina Melvon panguva iyi, ndiro zera Simba raakanga abva achiti achambondoshava kuzhe kwenyika. Vakanga vasisina kana fungidziro yokuti pamakore makumi matatu namatanhatu Simba akanga ava nechimiro chakaita sei. Chishuvo chavo chokuvona mwanakomana wavo chaibva chashanduka kuita mbezo yaikwaura-kwaura mwoyo wavo.

VaSvondo vakasundidzira chigaro cherara chaiva pedo navo kuti Melvon agare. Vakachisundidzira kwete nokuti vaida kumupa, asi nokuti vakanga vatovona kuti Melvon aiva asina vurongwa gwokumirira kupihwa, nokuti ruvoko gwake gwakanga gwodonanavira kuti azvitorere chigaro chacho. Vunhu gwemazera awa gwaivasembura zuva nezuva, asi vaingogumira mukuzvidya mwoyo, nokuti pakanga pasina zvokuita. Tsika dzavaida dzakanga dzatsikirigwa nechizvino-zvino zvokusachahovonekwazve. Vakavhura mapapu avo kuti vamhorose Melvon uyo aitora nguva yake kugara pasi achibata-bata samba dzake kuri kutya kugarira foni yake. Pavakati vabudise hwi ravo zimweya remafuta omujaya uyu rakavavhungazve vakatangazve kukoshora. Vakakwevera chituro chavo divi raibva nemhepo kunzvenga gwema gwomujaya uyu.

“Masikati zijaya”. Vakatanga VaSvondo. Melvon akadavira achiidza napaaigona napo kuzvininipisa.

“Makadiniko VaSvondo? Naro zuva iri!”

“Kuzhe kwapisa uku, regai tivone kuda rikapisa zvina masimba kungavira yotinhira”.

Melvon akasumukira ndokuvhomora foni yake musamba ndokutanga kuinongora-nongora. Zvaisiti kana avuya kudai, VaSvondo nemhuri yavo voziva kuti anenge avuya namashoko okuti Sibongile akanga avatumira mari neEcocash. Sibongile akanga achera chikomba akapfira mate mushure mokunge ambotumira mari nenhamba dzaLydia ikasasvika kwayaifanira kuinda. Hazvina akaziva kuti akanotora mari akadya here kana kuti zvii zvakaitika. Iye somunhu womudzidzisi aivimbiwa muraini vuye aigona kurava zvinhu zvapafoni achibva atopfuvura achitora mari yacho pazvitoro osvitsa kuvaridzi vayo. Musi uyu akati torei nguva achingonyon’onya foni zvotaridza kuti yaiva imwevo nyaya. VaSvondo vakagadziridza hwi ravo vachitsvaka zvokutaura, vakazhurukuzha pachituro chavo icho chakadavirira vuremu gwavo ndokuti rimwe gumbo jegenyuku, vakanozvigamha nokunobatira pasi negumwe guvoko, gumwe guchisara gwakabata hudyu. Izvi Melvon haana kumbozvivona. Aiva mushishi kutsvaka zvaaitsvaka mufoni make. Nechomumwoyo mavo VaSvondo vakati ishura murume mukuru kuwa pachituro masikati machena pamberi pepwere.

VaChipiti vakanga vadohwa kare kuti pazhe paita mweni, vakagovuya ndokuti vhorokosho nechomunyasi memurume wavo ndokuti nyena vakatarira nhumwa. Lydia akanga ahwa nokuziva hwi raMelvon, asi chero yanga yavuya iri hondo haazaimbomubuda nokusvoda. Melvon akatanga kuvatsanangurira nezvenyaya yokupandukigwa kwevatogwa munyika yeSouth Africa kwaiva naSimba. Aiziva nezvenyaya yaSimba nokusunga kwayakanga yakaita mwoyo waVaSvondo, saka aitaura achishara mashoko akati rerukei kuvatsanangurira. Chero hazvo vakweguru vakanga vasinganyatsohwisisi mamwe amashoko aitaugwa naMelvon akaita sokuti zenofobhiya, tiraibhi navana masaka, vakatanga kusagadzikana paakavati, “Regai ndikutaridzei pikicha iri pafesibhuku iyi zvimwe mungafananidzira chiso mukachiziva.”

Iroro shoko rokuti fesibhuku ndiro rimwe remashoko akawanda echirumbi avaihwa zuva nezuva achitaugwa novechiduku avasina kumbogara vahwisisa. Chavaingoziva ndochekuti chinhu chinohi fesibhuku ichi chakanga chashandura fungwa namagariro avanhu zvakanyanya munguva fupi fupi.

VaSvondo vakaona munhu wechirume akanga ane mhotsi nendebvu dzakaita zvimwanda-zvimwanda. Hana yavo yakamboda kuti rovei pavakacherechedza meso ake, asi vachibatanidza nezvimwe zvose zvavaivona, vakamushayiwa kuti aiva ani. VaChipiti ndivo vakangoti vachiti mufananidzo baa ndokuti, “Muti naVaJena! Hoyu Simba hoyu, ndati chero kukavuyei uyu ndiSimba uyu.” Mamwe amashoko avakataura haana kuhohwikwa, nokuti akanga ongonyungurukira mumisodzi, kuti kwaiva kufara kana kushungurudzika here,hameno! VaSvondo ndivo vakangoramba vakati tsiki-tsiki sevaiverenga zvakanga zvakanyogwa pamanyatera avo.  Mashoko akatevera  ndiwo akachikohovedza mwoyo yevaviri ava, zvokusiya yaita zvipenga zvipenga.

“Mukadzi waSimba ari kutsvaka hama dzomurume wake kuti vazotora mutumbi wake”.

Hapana akapindura nokuti wakanga usiri muvhunzo, vuye hapana akataura nokuti pakanga pasina chokutaura. Mivhunzo ndiyo yakatanga kudungamidzana, asi ichingoperera mukuita chamuhwiriri muzvifuva zvavo, nokuti yakanga isina pokubuda napo. Mashoko awa akanga avasona muromo.

Melvon akavasvitsa chipepa chaiva chine nhamba dzefoni dzomukadzi wechiZulu uyu wokutsvaka hama dzomurume wake pafesibhuku ndokuti zvake nyamu, hopu! Chero havo vakanga vahwisisa kuti shoko raMelvon rakanga riri rekufa kwemwana wavo, chakanyanya kupinda mumusoro mavo ndochekuti tsika namagariro avanhu zvakanga zvapandakara. Vakatarira Melvon vakamuvona otobuda ruvazhe gwavo achidzosera zvitambo zvake zvefoni zvomuzheve odomonerekazve noruzhowa gwavo. Ava VaChipiti vakanga vongonyumwaira nemunhanga dzichiita sedzasiyana. VaSvondo vakatatarika vachiidza kusimuka ndokupedzisira vangotizve pachituro chavo tega.

“Lydia, iwe Lydia damwa kamwe uchihwa iwe!” vakadero vachidana muzukuru wavo uyo akanga akadongorera zvaiitika pazhe napamukova wemba. Havana kumirira kuti adavire kana kuti avuye pavari ndobva vati, “Manya unondidanira VaChikwakukira uti vasvike vuno izvezvi!”