Ndaichovha bhizautare ndakananga kuEastlea kwandaishanda ndiri bharanzi raimira paZebra Crossing kuti vana vemhene vepa Admiral Tait vagone kuyambuka nzira zvisina tsaona. Tose tinoziva kuti masaskamu ekumayard haagone kuyambuka ega nekuti havana skop dhonoro sevapfanha vekumarukisheni. Chokwadi ndechekuti kabasa kandanga ndapihwa ndiko kaifaniropihwa koporo vanenge vachatanga chingonjo, asi ini mudhara ane bvudzi jena, ane makore akutosvika makumi matatu ari pabasa ndakakandwa uku nekuti vakuru vakanga vaindibatirira. Asi iyo yatova imwe nyaya hayo. Ndichiri munzira chiovha-ovha chakarira, zvikanzi naSajeni, “Zuze, mhanya kubasa izvozvi. Kwaita nyanya kuno. Ovha.”

Ndakarova kabhizautare kangu, tande, nekuti ukasakurumidza vakuru vadana, basa rinogona kukuperera ukakwangwaya. Vaindiona ndakapomba munaEnterprise vaiti kamudhara aka kanenge kasvikirwa. Ndaienderana nemota chaidzo zvekuti miti yemupuranga mucheto menzira ndanga ndisingatomboiona. Tumakomba twakazara mumugwagwa ndaingopinda, tubwi, ndichisiya ndamwaya mvura yainaya muzhizha.

Pandakasvika paMorris Depot, ndakaona vakomana vachimhanya-mhanya kunge nyika yava kuguma nemoto weSodhomu. Misindo yavo yaiti dhi, dhi, dhi patara senge vane nyundo kunze kwetsoka.

“Zuze, mhanya-mhanya, mdara. Chaputika mudhorobha,” ndiNdlovu uyo aindidana. Ndakaona anga akapfeka riot yake, full gear chaiyo.

“Uthini mfowethu?” Ndakapindura nechiNdevere nekuti ndakambenge ndagariswa kwaBurawayo nyika payakawana kuzvitonga kuzere.

“Mfowethu, mfowethu chiiko? Chatsva muguta, Zuze, Sajeni vati munhu wese ngaapinde mugear.”

“Kana neniwo?”

“Usaite kunge mbwende so. Munhu wese arikupinda nhasi. Unofunga vangakusiye wakamira kunge chitunha kuzvikoro mune mabiribobi muguta? Manya unopfeka, ukanonoka uchaenda uri musvuu kunge nzungu.”

Ndakamhanya ndichinzwa achidevedzera kuti “Simudza gumbo, harisi rako…” Sezvinei, nebasa redu iri, zvinhu zvinogara zvakarongeka mumba yenhumbi. Vakomana vaikatanura hembe dzamazuvaose vachipfeka dzebasa chop-chop chaiyo. Hazvina kumbotora nguva, ndakanga ndatosimira hembe yeruvara rweutsi, bhurugwa riri reruvara rwedenga, nemumusoro – nguwo yakasimba kunge damba mbishi. Muruboshwe ndaiva newuko, kurudyi ndine tsvimbo, mutsoka, ndakapfeka shangu dzangu nhema dzaipenyeswa nezuva. Ndiyo gear yanga yakapfekwa nevamwe vedu iyi.

Ndakanopinda padandaro apo vebato rangu vanga vakatomira kuti twi, pasina arikufamba. Sajeni kumberi vaideedzera nezwi riri pamusoro-soro:

“Pinda mumutsetse, wanonoka, Zuze! Varume woye, nhasi, ndiri kuda zvitunha. Mazvinzwa here kumashure uko? Nhasi vachachema kuti amai. Hazviitwe muguta mangu zvavari kuita izvi. Bodo. Kwete muguta mangu. Tanzwisisana here?”

“Hongu, ishe,” takapindura tose. Patiri nehembe dzebasa, taiita kunge mhuka imwe chete, ine chinangwa chimwe.

“Ndati nhasi kunofiwa. Vatamba nemago iwo vasiri wekwa Mhofu. Mazvinzwa here, machinda?” vakashedzera Sajeni.

“Hongu, ishe,” takadavira nehukasha.

Takamira takadai, tichinzwa Sajeni vachishaura, tanga tatova imbwa dzapihwa mhiripiri. Vakawanda vakomana vaivepo vaiva majaha anotemwa dzinobva ropa, asi kana nesu ana makeyi takatozvinzwawo ipapo.

“Muri kumirirei apo. Pindai mumota. Pindai, Pindai, Pindai!”

Takamhanya tichinopinda shure kwemaLandrover nemaSantana anga akatimirira. Yangu ndakatobata yava kufamba ndikaita zvekushetukira mukati. Pane akashedzera kuti “Ninja”, asi handina kuona kuti ndiyani. Tanga takazara kunge pakisimusi. Ndagara, ndakaona, hezvo, ndiNdlovu akagara parutivi pangu. Maziso ake anga akatsvuka kuti piriviri, zvairatidza kuti anga adziputa.

Kwese, kwese tainzwa mota dzichichema bopi, bopi, bopi, takacheka munaChinamano kuti tinobata Fourth. Mhepo yaitirova tiri shure, mota ichigujumuka zvekuti ukasabatisisa waidhonha, woita munyama, dzaitevera kumashure dzaikupwanya senhanga. Mota dzepovho dzaisuduruka, isu varidzi veguta tichimhanya zvedu. Vetsoka vaingotarisa vachiti  asi chava Chimurenga? Pamarobot aFourth na Samora Machel, takangopinda ari matsvuku. Kamwe kasawara kaitoda zvekufamba kunge tsikombi kachitaura parunhare, asi sporo yakakarova tauya! Kakapona neburi retsono nekuti kaigona kufira ipapo.

Takapinda muna Nelson Mandela, takanaga Africa Unity Square. Mapato ese aiziva kwaari kunosiiwa. Chinangwa changa chiri chokukomba guta, tobvisa mhandu dzaikonzera mhirizhonga.

Takaburutswa pedo nepariyamende, tiri kumucheto kwemugwagwa. Muna Africa Unity Square manga makazara kuti ta nevanhu. Vaiita kunge masvosve chaiwo. Mureza weZimbabwe waizeya nemhepo. Magonhi epariyamende anga akapfigwa, varimukati vasunga mbariro. Kurimwe divi, panaSilundika na Third, paiva nemahofisi makuru eOld Mutual. Mberi, paunosvika pana Jason Moyo, ndipo paiva nehotera yeMeikles. Chandakatanga kufunga ndechekuti, chikatsva pano, vemadzibasa – vashandi mumahofisi, nevatishanyira vekudzimwe nyika vachaona mhirizhonga. Chokwadi zvainyadzisa.

Vanhu vaiva pakati, padariro raAfrica Unity Square vaiimba. Vaiimba karwiyo kekushoropodza vachiti, “Dzemadhisinyongoro povo yaramba/ dzemadhisinyongoro povo yaramba…” Vamwe ndivo vairidza ngoma, pakati pedariro paiva netukomana twaitamba kongonya yekwaBorder Gezi chaiyo. Muchawonga maiva nemadzimai akapfeka mazambiya nemadhuku, vamwe vaiva vanhurume, majaha ne mhandara zvaivemowo. Ndakaona vamwe vainge mhuri, baba naamai, baba vakatakura mwanasikana pamapendekete.

Magirazi epa Meikles aipenya nezuva remasikati. Kwaipisa asi povo yaidzivirirwa nemimvuri yemiJacaranda nemiPine, miti yaive muSquare macho. Pandakakura, Harare ichiri Salisbury, painzi Cecil Square zvichirangaridza Cecil John Rhodes, bhunu rakaisvoronga kuti nyika yedu ipambwe. Chero marongerwo etwunzira twepo twanga twakagadzirwa twakachekana kuti varimudenga vaone mureza weBhuriteni uya unonzi Union Jack. Pakatizve ndipo paiva nemvura yaipfachuka-pfachuka mukachisipite kakaumbwa nemaoko.

Paiva nemurume akanga akamira aripamusoro, akabata loudspeaker muruoko achisvevedzera nechirungu, iye ari mutema, munyika yevatema:

“The price of bread has become unaffordable for the ordinary man on the street. Everyday prices are going up, we are hungry, yet those we voted into power are driving around in their airconditioned Mercedes Benz!”

Vamwe vakaridza muridzo, vamwe vachisvedzera kuti, “Taurai, Save, munotaura chokwadi.”

“We are here to tell the government that enough is enough.”

Haiwa ndaifunga kuti ava ndivo vekumaUniversity, vaya vanotaura chirungu chemuduramazwi. Ndakamira ipapo ndichiti murume anotaura chokwadi uyu. Netumari twangu twekubasa twushomanana, mhuri yangu yakanga isisakwanisa Lobels kana Aroma. Mangwanani ndanga ndamwa hangu svutugadzike ndikatsenga chimupotohai nembambaira dzandanga ndabikirwa naMai Bhoi.

Mupovho  maiva nevanhu vakabata zvikwangwani zvemavara akawanda zvakanyorwa zvichemo zvavo. Vamwe ndivo vaidemba mitengo, vamwe vaigunun’una kuti havana mabasa, vamwe vaiti hurumende ngaichibva. Asi pavari vese apa, hapana aiita musindo, vaiisa zvichemo zvavo murugare rwaKristo. Ndinganyepa ndikati panga pane mhirizhonga.

Kumativi kainga kwakamira vaya venhau, vaya vanopona neghuhwa. Pavari paiva nevarungu, ava taiziva kuti vaimiririra mapepa emhiri kwemakungwa. Mashoko avo ainyadzisa hurumende mumaziso edzimwe nyika. Vatema vaive veHerald, kana mamwe mapepa omuno.

“Vamwayei chiutsi, vakomana,” Izwi revakuru rakaupa pazviovha.

Pasina kana nguva takaona vemagidi voanangisa  mumhepo.

“Fire!” Sajeni vakashedzera.

Takangonzwa magu-gu-gu, ndokuonda muchaonga mopfumbuka utsi kunge makore edenga. Povo yakatanga kuchema ichiti, “Yowe, amaiwe.” Maiva nevaikosora, misodzi ichierera. Chiutsi chakaipa hama dzangu, hachisi chekutamba nacho.  Vakatanga kutiza nekuti dariro ranga risisagarika nemweya wetsvina wanga wazaremo. Asi kwavaitizira panga pasina nekuti takanga takavakomba. Takaona vaimhanya vakananga kwanga kunebato redu, Sajeni vakati:

“Munhu ngaarohwe semunhu, vakomana.”

Ndakaona Ndlovu osimudza ruoko achirakasha kamwe kamupfanha kanga kave pedo. Yavo yanga iri nhamo yefodya yemudzanga, uko kwaiva neutsi, kuno kunemazino eMaBlack Boots. Vamwe amai vakangoyerekana vavepadhuze ndikavarova bendekete netsvimbo yangu.

“Mwari we!” vakachema vachidzokera kuutsi. Yakanga yava mhirizvonga. Ndaingonzwa vanhu vachichema. Kwese kwanga kuzere maBlack Boots achitinha vanhu. Chero mombe iri pagejo hainzwarwo.

Ndakarova kamwe kamukomana, kadhonha ndikakakava mumbabvu. Pane akakanda chidhinha chikarova wuko. Simba racho rakaita kuti mabhonzo emuviri wangu agedegede. Dai pasina wuko ndakatofa ipapo. Kamukomana kandanga ndarova kakamuka kakarova sporo senge tsuro murutsva. Handina kuona nyakupotsera chidhinha, asi ndakabva ndarova vamwe baba vaimhanya vachipfuura.

Hamenho kuti unosvikirwa nechii panguva dzakadai asi ndakarova munhu semhuka. Sajeni vaisheedzera vachitiraira pekumira, vachitinangisa kune vanga vasina kurohwa. Asi kune vaipoya. Povo yanga yakawandisa, isu tiri vashoma. Vakomana vechidiki ndivo vaiedza kurwisa, asi vakanga vasina zvombo kunge isu. Mumwe akandirova musoro nechikwangwani, ndokubva atinhwa naMuvingi aive pedo neni. Takamurova kusvika tara yatsvuka neropa.

“Rovai, rovai, varovei,” Sajeni vaikurudzira, apo vachiriga rimwe zihofori ranga raita munyama kuuya padhuze navo.

Varume, vakadzi, vana, chembere neharahwa, vose taingorova kunge mwana wemunhu mumwe. Pane murume aidzedzereka akabata kuoko rwerudyi, bhonzo richionekera panze. Vamwe ambuya vaichema kuti, “Mwanangu wakundiuraya,” kunaBhimha aivatinha. Neukoko Chasisi akasvetuka akakava kamwe kamuchinda. Ndakabwaira nekuti akaita kunge ari mubhaisikopo rekung-fu raibuda Chishanu paZBC.

Mumhirizhonga umu ndakamira kumbotura mafemo. Ibasa guru, rinonetesa kunge kusakura pamugwazo. Ndlovu akanditarisa achinyemwerera.

“Machemberaka, mudhara, hamucharigona,” akataura Ndlovu.

“Fokoro mupfana. Ndakapinda basa iri usati wazvarwa,” ndakamupindura.

“Bvuma wasakara, bvuma waunyana,” akataura Ndlovu.

Mashoko ake akandipa ukasha, ndikabva ndatandanisa imwe mvana ndikairova kuti Ndlovu aone kuti ndichiripo. Ndakanzwa achiseka, achindikuza mujambanja. Takashanda nesimba zvekuti pasina nguva takanga tabvisa vanhu vose vakanga vakaungana. Chakangosara chete zvikwangwani, mapepa, marara, neropa raiyerera patara. Dariro rose ranga ranyarara kuti mwiro. Mureza waizeya zvinyoro-nyoro mumhepo papariyamende yenyika.

Vaya vanga vanyanya kukuvara zvekuti havaikwanisa kufamba vakauya vachitorwa nemahamburenzi, vachinorapwa kuParirenyatwa. Taingovanzwa vachigomera vakarara pasi. Vaityisa ndevaya vainge vakarara vakati zii, waishaya kuti munhu mupenyu here kana kuti atisiya. Asi tose takadzidziswa kuti rovai muviri, kwete musoro. Taive mapurisa, kwete mhondi, asi panenge pachiitika jambanja, zvinonetsa kunyatsoona kuti chii chiri kuitika. Bato redu rakanzi ridzokere kukamba, vamwe ndivo vakanzi vasare kuona kuti muguta mune rugare rwaKristo. Ndakadzokera mumota, Ndlovu akanyarara ari pedo neni. Hapana aitaura nemumwe. Handizive kuti vakomana vaifungei. Mumwe nemumwe aitaura neMusiki wake nechomumoyo.

Patakasvika, ndakanokatanura nhumbi dzebasa ndikapfeka dzomazuva ose, bhurugwa rejinhi, nehembe chena. Chandisina kubvisa shangu dzangu dzebasa. Sajeni vakapinda mumba mataipfekera vakati:

“Magona basa, vakomana. Ndizvozvo zvatinoda. Hamuone kuti muguta mava nerunyararo. Honai vatishanyira vemhiri kwemakungwa wava kugona kurara zvakanakamuMeikles vasinganzwe ruzha nhasi manheru. Haiwa, chero vakuru vari kumusoro vatiudza kuti maisvonatsa.”

Ini ndakatora twumuriwo twekovho twandanga ndatenga nebhodhoro rekokokora zvaiva muplastic bag.

“Toonana mangwana, varume,” ndakaoneka.

“Ko, uri kumhanyireiko? Dai wambogara mbichana, Zuze, tapfuura nepabhawa,” Ndlovu akataura.

“Inga unoziva Mai Ano vanovava. Uri kuda kundiuraisa?”

“Ramba mukadzi timwe hwahwa, ndigokutengera chingoto,” Chamisa aikatanura nhumbi akashaura, vakomana vose vaive mumba vakatanga kuimba naye.

Ndakaseka hangu, ndikati vari kuda kuputsa musha wangu. Vakawanda vaigara pedo, kuChikurubhi. Ini ndaigara Mufakose. Handaigona kuswera ndichimbeya mumabhawa, mhuri yakandimirira kumba.

“Zuze,” Sajeni vakandidana ndava pagonhi. “Nezviri kuitika izvi, tiri kuda munhu wese kuti asvike pabasa zvinenguva. Mangwana fumobata jongwe muromo, tichatumira mota iri kutenderera ichitora vanhu vese zuva risati rabuda. Handitika?”

“Hongu, ndichagadzirira, shefu.”

Ndakaoneka, ndikavasiya hangu ndoende kumba, kundozorora.

*****

Ndakaburuka dutavanhu munaMarimba, paduze neMufakose 1, ndikatanga kufamba pore-pore. Akanga ava mahusiku, saka taivhenekwa nemagetsi aive pamusoro pemitanda yesimbi, mudenga-denga, saka zvaingoita kunge kwakachena. Taimbova nemagetsi aripedo nemigwagwa seari kumayard, asi mandururani ekumarukisheni airamba achiaputsa nematombo kusvika taisirwa emhando imwe.

Ndakakomoka munaMuriranyenze ndichinzwa kuneta kwemuviri wangu. Tsoka dzairwadza nekumhanya kwatanga taita masikati. Bendekete rangu rekurwudyi ndanga ndisingatomborinzwa, bodo. Zvaiita kunge pasina chinhu, kunge ruoko rwangu rwava rwechitunha chaicho. Basa redu raida ana nhingirikini, vaya vachiri kunzwa, isu vakwegura tainga tisisazvikwanisa. Dai ndakadzidzawo, pamwe ndaiwana remumahofisi zvakaita vamwe. Asi apo ndozvifadza nenhema. Hapana mawaniro andaiita chinzvimbo muZRP. Yanga iri tsaona yemapindiro andakaita basa.

“Maswera here, baba Ano?” ndakanzwa izwi richidana mumba iri pedo.

“Taswera maswerawo,” ndakapindura ndichipfuurira zvangu.

Mumugwagwa mainge makazara vanhu vaifamba-famba, chero ari mahusiku, sezvinoitika mumarukisheni. Kuruboswe kwangu kwaiva nemajaha ainga akagara achitamba njuga vachiputa fodya. Pavakandiona vakandikwazisa. Vaiva vakomana vapedza chikoro, zvino kusina mabasa vaigoitei havo. Isu takakura nguva mabasa akawandisa, vanhu ndivo vaitoita vashoma.

Maraini ekuno aiva netumba tutukutuku. Dzimwe dzaitove dzakabatana, yeapa neyeapa, zvokutoti vavakidzani vemo vainzwanana, uyu achinzwa zvinoitika mumba memumwe. Dzakawanda dzacho dzaiva nematenga easbestos. Tainge takanzwa kuti yaikonzera zvirwere zvemumapapu, asi ndopataiita sei – taizopfira dzimba dzemuguta nehuswa here, vakomana? Zvimwe tongorarama nesimba raKristo.

Mukuneta kwangu, ndakatanga kugaya kuti dai zvaiita ndicharegera basa hangu. Ndaida kudzokera kumusha kwedu, kuManhenga, uko kwandanga ndakavaka kamba. Amai vangu nababa vakanga vachiri vapenyu. Munyika medu maifa vaduku, vakuru vachisara. Mumba yemuguta taisiya vana hedu. Ndaiva nemunda wangu wandaida kurima chibage, mhunga, nzungu, nyimo, mbambaira, nemuriwo. Zvimwewo maizongobuda ipwa, magaka, nembeva. Kumusha ndakange ndine miti yemichero, taiva nemitsubvu, mimango, migwavha, nemahabirosi, apo mumasango muzere mizhanje nemitohwe. Hapana asinanungo aifa nenzara kwedu! Hapana chinofadza moyo kunge kudya chikafu chawakarima nemaoko ako ukadiridza neziya rako wega. Maborn-rukisheni havazvinzwisise izvi, ukavati tora dura utswe vanokuti handei kuchigayo, kana kutoti tinotenga Roller Meal muchitoro. Ndiwo mafambiro enguva aya. Ndaive nedanga remombe, mbudzi, huku nemadhadha kumusha. Hapana chataishaiwa.

Asi mumafungiro angu ekusiya basa, ndaiziva kuti ndaizvifadza nenhema. Ndanga ndichinemakore maviri chaiwo kuti ndikwanise penje- eh, mudyandigere wangu. Mudenga mangamusina makore, saka ndaiona nyenyedzi dzichipenya. Asi hadzina kuwanda sedzaunoona kumusha kusina magetsi. Ndinoyeuka ndichiri mudiki kuti mumwedzi waMbudzi denga raizara nemasvosvobwa zvaifadza maziso, zvichiisoshamisa moyo.

Tara yaiva pamusoro-soro, apo isu pataifamba pamavhu pari pasi, nekuti madzimai aitsvaira paruvanze mangwanani ogaoga. Ndakasvika pamba munaMucheresesa painonosangana naMushuma. Ghedhi rakanga ravharwa apandisina svumbunuro, saka ndakaridza muridzo, ndikanzwa mitsindo, kamuzukuru kangu, Chamunorwa, kachimhanya kuzondivhurira.

“Manheru, Sekuru?” kakandikwaziza kachiuchira.

“Manheru, mwana wehanzvadzi.” Ndakapindura, ndichikapa maplastic bag.

Ndakapinda mumba, umo Mai Ano vakanditambira nomufaro. Ndakagara pachigaro chababa ndikakwazisana nemhuri yangu yaivemo. Taigara tiri vanomwe; taive nevanasikana vatatu, apo taichengeta vazukuru vatatu – vana vasisi vakashaya, nevamwe tsano – hama yaMai Ano.

“Kwanga kuri sei kubasa?” Mai Ano vakandibvunza.

“Aiwa, nhasi kwanga kune basa guru. Tashanda sembongoro chaidzo,” ndakavapindura.

“Mbavha dzemuHarare dzawandisa, mabata vanganiko?”

“Nhasi dzanga dzisiri mbavha, adzimai,” ndakabva ndamira ipapo nekuti ndanga ndisina simba rekunyatsotsanangura nhorondo yezvanga zvaitika.

“Todya here, Museyamwa?” Mai Ano vakandibvunza. Tanga tagara tose makore akawanda zvokuti ndivo shamwari yangu yaiziva zviri muninga, mukati-kati memoyo wangu.

“Hezvo, manga makandimirira, vana vachifa nenzara.”

Vakaunza mvura, vakapfugama, vakandichingura kuti ndigeze maoko. Vapedza vakandiunzira ndiro yaive nesadza, muriwo, nematemba akabikwa mumafuta enguruve. Ndakavatenda ndikatungamira munamato tisati tadya. Kubika kwaMai Ano kunodadisa, pamusha pano ndaidya senge ndini Munhumutapa chaiye. Zvaindifadza kunzwa mazwi evana, tichidya tose semhuri pamwechete.

Pamadziro, mberi kwangu tanga tine mifananidzo yakawanda yemhuri. Panga pane wepamuchato wedu tichiri jaha nemhandara. Pazasi pacho taive nemufananidzo waMakomborero, mwanakomana wedu wekutanga. Aive asiri pano nesu nekuti anga atumirwa namauto kunorwa hondo yaKabila kuDRC. Zvaindishungurudza mumoyo paakatanga kutumirwa kuhondo, zvokuti ndaishaya hope. Ndainge ndisingade kuti apinde muchiuto. Dai akaita hake mudzidzisi kana mabharani, asi ainge ava pazera rekuzvionera, zviya zvinonzi pachiNdevere, “Indoda kufanele izibonele”.  Nepamwe, mumoyo mangu ndaimuremekedza nekuti airwira nyika yake. Ini baba vake handina kurwa muhondo yerusununguko. Pamwe ndiwo mamiriro apasi kuti vana vairwa hondo dzisina kurwiwa namadzibaba awo. Ndakadya ndichitarisa mufananidzo wake, akapfeka hanzu dzake dzemavara-mavara echiuto, ngowani yebhareta iri mumusoro. Aive nemakore makumi maviri nerimwe asi ainga avakutoita kunge murume mukuru. Ndiwo mafambiro enguva.

“Muzukuru Tanaka, waita homework yako here?” Ndakabvunza.

“Hongu, Sekuru.”

“Zvakanaka. Kovamwe mese, makangoti zii so, maita basa renyu rekuchikoro here?”

Vakangoti tuzu, vachibwaira, ndikavadana nemazita:

“Sekai, Vheneziya, Chenhamo, hamusi kunzwa zvandabvunza here? Zvimwe muri kuda kuti nditore mvuu, ndiyo ingaite kuti mugone kutaura. Ndati maita homework yenyu here?”

“Aiwa vana, varegei vakadaro,” vadzimai vakada kuvadzivira.

“Kwete, ndaramba, hatitambe nechikoro tichidaro. Siyai sadza renyu, moenda kunotora mabhuku enyu. Pataikura isu, hapana aidya asina kuenda kumunda, mazuvano hapana anodya asina kuita basa rekuchikoro.”

“Hezvo, Baba Ano-”

“Zvandataura ndizvozvo,” ndakabva ndatoipedza nyaya yacho.

Ndaifarira kuti kana ndagara nevana ndizive zviri kuitika kuchikoro. Ini ndakangogona kusvika standard six nekuti vabereki vanga vasina mari yekundiendesa mberi. Ndiko saka ndichikurudzira vechidiki vanemukana kuti vashande nesimba. Chinongondishungurudza chete ndechokuti isu taiwana mabasa nedzidzo iri pasi-pasi, asi vana vemazuvano vanoshaya mabasa ivo vane dzidzo yekumusoro kunyangwe yekumauniversity chaiyo.

Pakazorira ngoma dzenhau, vanga vapedza mabhuku avo nekudya, ndakaudza vana kuti vaende kundorara. Joseph Madhimba naColin Harvey vakanga varipanyanga. Vakatanga nekutiudza kuti mutungamiriri wenyika anga ashanya kuAmerica, uko aienda kumusangano weMubatanidzwa weNyika Dzose kuNew York. Dzapera kwakauya nhau dzemhirizhonga yakaitika pakati peguta. Harvey akati povo yaipaza zvitoro ne mahofisi muguta saka mapurisa namauto akaita basa rakaisvonaka kudzosa rugare muguta guru reZimbabwe. Vakaratidza mahwindo anga akapazwa, vakaburitsa mukuru wemapurisa, ivo VaChihuri vachiyambira kuti vaya vanoda kukonzera mhirizhonga vazive kuti mapurisa anovabata. VaChimutengwende vakabudawo vachikurudzira vanhu kuti vadzokere kumabasa avo. VaDabengwa ndivowo vakati mauto enyika anga apihwa shoko rekuti vabatsire mapurisa uyezvo, “Havamire kupfura kana pane anoda kukonzera misindo.”

Ndakaona ndakanyarara, ndikati kuna Mai Ano, “Handei hedu tinorara.”

Takaenda kumba yedu yekunorara, nokuti chero mumba mekudyira mataionera terevhizhoni maiva nevana vairaremo. Kamba kedu kaiva kadiki. Ndakakatanura hembe, ndikapinda mugudza ndiri musvuu. Mai Ano vakanditsvoda tikaenda pabonde chinyararire. Tapedza vakandinyemwerera, vakandidetemba nomutupo, ndikavakumbira kuti vandimutse makuseni-seni nokuti pane mota yaiuya kuzonditora kundiendesa kubasa. Manheru iwawo, ndakarara ndakavabvumbamira, shungu dzaiva mumoyo mangu dzikatonhorerwa. Mukadzi uyu chipo kubva kuna Mwari. Dai pasina Mai Ano, pfungwa dzangu dzakatenderera kare, nekuti mararamiro apasi pano ava kuvhiringidza chero vanozviti vakasimba.

Ndakamutswa mangwanani zuva risati rambobuda naMai Ano. Ndaitonyahwaira pamba kuti ndisamutse vana, ndikageza, ndokupfeka. Mai Ano vakandipa kambuva kekuzodya magwanani ndava kubasa. Ndakavatsvoda ndikandomira paghedi, ndakamirira mota yebasa.

Sezvinei ndakanzwa kutinhira kweLandrover. Mushure manga muna Magaisa, Chiutare, Sibanda naMangwiro, vandakakwazisa ndichipinda imomo. Kwaitonhora asi Magaisa anga aunza kagumbeze katakafugatose, takafuratira kwaienda mota kuti tisarohwe nemhepo. Taingondzwa mota ichigujumuka ichikwira mahump azere mumigwagwa yekumarukisheni. Kaitano aityaira taimuziva nenyaya yekumhanya, asi hapana zvataigona kutaura nekuti aiva pamusoro pedu. Magaro edu ndiwochete aigununguna nekukuvara pamusaka pematyairiro ake aiita kunge tiri mungoro.

“Unofunga kuti chichatsva zvakare nhasi, Zuze?” Sibanda aive pedo neni akabvunza.

“Ndiri munhu wenyama, ndingaziveiko hangu,” ndakapindura.

“Nekurohwa kwakaita munhu nezuro unoti vangabude futi?” Sibanda akaenderera mberi.

“Handizive,” ndakapindura.

Mangwiro akati, “Vanenge vachitopenga vakabuda nhasi. Vanhu imbwende, takavagadzirisa. Uyezve nyaya yacho yapindirwa nemasoja, saka anenge achitsvaga rufu rwake ndiye chete angabude.”

“Ndakanzwa kuti nhasi tinenge takazara pakati peguta zvekuti hapana anotogona kupinda. Kune vakomana varikubva Bindura, nekumaprovince kuzotisimbisa,” Sibanda akataura.

Magaisa akabvunza kuti, “Ko chikatsva kumaprovince?”

“Maya, haitambike iyoyo, vemuHarare neBurawayo chete ndiwo vane misindo. Hapana anoti bufu kunze uku.”

Vachikurukura nyaya, ndakafunga hangu matangiro andakaita basa muna1976 hondo yerusununguko ichipisa. Ndanga ndichiri mujaha ainzwa, ndikawanirwa basa muchipurisa nasekuru vangu, VaMarange, vaigara Haifiridzi, vaiva Sub-Inisipekita. Makore iwawo ndicho chinzvimbo chikurusa chaigona kusvikwa nemunhu mutema mumapurisa aSmith. Zvinzimbo zvevarungu zvaiva zvakasiyana nezvedu, asi chataiziva ndechokuti chero wakwirira sei uri mutema, chero chinzvimbo chako pabepa chiri pamusoro pemurungu arikutanga basa, iye aive pamusoro pako pamusaka peganda rake. Masimba aVaMarange aingova pamusoro pemapurisa matema oga. Varungu vaizvionera. Ndichochokwadi chemagariro edu muRodhizha.

Ndavakuchipurisa, takadzidziswa kufora, bumbiro romutemo, kushandisa gidi, kubata mbavha nezvimwe zvinhu zvaienderana nebasa redu. Chero bhunu raitidzidzisa, Parkinson, rakandikurudzira richiti ndaishanda nesimba, uye ndikaramba ndakadero ndichakwirira. Mumusoro mangu ndaitozviona ndasvika chinhano chinenge chasekuru, ndava munhu anoonekerawo munharaunda. Handina hangu kuzokwirira nekuti pakazowana nyika kuzvitonga kuzere, vakarwa hondo ndivo waikwirira, isu veRodhizha tichisara tiri pasi. Asi iyo yatove imwe nyaya.

Motokari yakamira ichinhonga Ngwenya naKutyauripo vainge vakatimirira pamusika ndokubva tasimukazve. Takwazisana, ndakadzokera mundangariro dzangu. Ndichiri kuyeuka muna1978, kana kuti ndemuna1979 here – patanga tava pasi pehurumbende yechimbwasungata Muzorewa, handichanyatsoziva, kwavakare, asi ndinoyeuka kwakaita mhirizhonga kuMbare. Mazuva iayo mhirizhonga yaingoitikira kumarukisheni chete nekuti vatema vainge vasina mvumo yekuunganirana pakati peguta. Zveshuwa mazuvano kupinda kwebongozozo muguta kunoita kuti basa rinetse nekuti tinofanira kudzivirira dzimba nemabhizimusi evanemari. Mumarukisheni taingopaza, tichiita madiro aJojina.

Takatakurwa nemaLandrover, kwete emazuvano asi emakore iawo, tikamhanyiswa kuMbare. Munhu wese anoziva kuti makore iawo, varungu vaigara kumayard, vatema vachigara kumarukisheni. Mbare ndiyo rukisheni rwokutanga rwevatema. muSosibheri. Takasvika pane gurusvusvu revanhu vatema, ndinofunga vaitsigira mapato ekuzvitonga, vainge vakatakura zvikwangwani vachiti varikuda rusununguko.

“Right, boys, let’s show these bloody gooks just who’s in charge here,” akataura Bramford, bhunu raititungamira.

Takamwaya vanhu chiutsi ndokutanga kuvatinha netsvimbo dzedu. Vamwe varimukati vaikanda matombo, asi tanga takasimba, takawanda, tine zvombo. Tanga tisina matyira kuti arohwa anofa kana kuti anorarama here. Chedu chete chaiva chekuratidza masimba evapambepfumi. Ropa raiyerera munzira, vanhu vachimhanya vachichema kuti midzimu yavabatisa pasi. Makore iawo ndaive ndichiri kunzwa, ndaiti ndikarova munhu kamwechete ndaimuriga pasi. Vainditi “Tree cutter” kana kuti “Murigamiti” pachivanhu.

Chinhu chega chainyanya kutyisa patairova vanhu kumarukisheni tichirwira hurumende yevarungu changa chiri chekuti paishandiswa imbwa huru. Imbwa dzacho dzaingobatwa nemapurisa varungu chete, vachidzisikira mupovo. Imbwa yaiti ikaruma munhu yaimuita kanyama-kanyama. Chainyanya kutyisa ndechekuti imbwa idzi dzainge dzakarerwa dzichidzidziswa kuruma vanhu vatema saka wanga uchitotyawo newewo, chero uri mupurisa, kuti imbwa yacho inogona kukuruma.

Tototenda Mwari kuti hatichashandisa imbwa mazuvano. Zvinoratidza kuti nyika yedu yafambira mberi kubvira patakawana kuzvitonga kuzere muna1980.