Chirikure Chirikure

Gore rino hakuvatwi
tisina kuzvigadzira
Rino gore hakurarwi
tisina kuzvipedza

Hatingaregi uchiwondonga, takangotarisa
Hatingaregi uchibvoronga, takangonyarara
Hatingaregi uchiwondomora, takangodzvondora
Hatingaregi uchibvonyonga, takangoduka

Zuva riya wakatuka mbuya, tikazvinyarara
Riya zuva wakatengesa pfuma, tikangonyarara
Nezuro wakapisa dura, tikazvinyarara

Nhasi woisa tsvina mutsime?
tsvina mutsime?
tsvina mutsime?
...

Ndakarinzwa shoko raMacmillan wekuBritain
Hanzi kwava nemhepo itsva inovhuvhuta muAfrika
Mhepo yotsvaira Afrika ichishandura zvose
Mhepo inofanirwa kucherechedzwa nepasi rose

Ndakaiona mhepo ichitsvaira nyika yeAfrika
Ichisvinudza meso evaya vari parumananzombe
Ichizunza mbambo dzeusvetasimba, kuti zu zu zu
Ichidokerwa yopeperetsa mureza weruzhinji rwevanhu

Ndotarisa uko nekoko nhasi ndoona imwe ngoma
Mhepo iya yasanduka ruvara, yava chamupupuri
Chamupupuri chodzura mbariro dzemisoro yevanhu
Choshezheudzira pfumo kune wamai, richisiya mhandu
Chodzimaidza meso, kufamba yangova fembera fembera
Chonyemudza mari, mari yosandura vamwe kuita zvigeven'a
Chobvuta nhembe dzezvigaro zvemagweta, chichikanda muchoto
Chobvarura mureza weruzhinji, chichiturika ura hwesvava

Ndikatarisisa ndinoona chamupupuri chine shavi
Chamupupuri chodambura-dambura rukuvhute -
Uku mhuru haisati yatombodongorera kuti ibude munhumbu
Kana mihacha, pokupirira, midzi yayo chaiturika mudenga!
...

I heard the word from Macmillan of Britain
There is a new wind blowing in Africa
A wind of change sweeping across Africa
A wind the whole world is warned to take heed of

I saw the wind sweeping out the land of Africa
Opening the eyes of those under oppression
Shaking the bastions of colonialism to the root
Leaving a new flag of the people flying in the air

Today, I look here and there, I hear another sound
The wind has changed tone; this, now, is a dust-storm
A dust-storm that is ripping out the wiring from people's minds
Turning the spear from the enemy to point at one's own brother
Blinding the eyes so people can't see where they are going
Dangling money in people's faces, changing many into devils
It rips off the adornments from the legal thrones and throws them into the fire
It tramples on the flag of the people and hoists up the insides of little babies

When I look closely, I see a demonic dust-storm
A dust-storm that is shredding the umbilical cord
Even before the calf is ready to leave the womb
It has pulled out the ancestral prayer-tree, muhacha
And turned it upside down
With its roots to the sun!
...

Sitting in the white wintry sun
Watching birds winging in total peace
The mind switches to one's bare feet:
Two feet
Lucky to still have them both
Ten toes
Blessed to still have them all.

Who made that stupendous blunder?
The feet, straying in the wrong area?
The mouth, blurting the wrong party slogan?

Wrong area?
Who decides that?
Party slogan?
Who designs that?

Two feet
For perfect mobility
Ten toes
For total balance

Time to move on
Where the feet's heart desires.
...

Sitting in the white wintry sun
Watching birds winging in total peace
The mind switches to one's bare feet:
...

In the work place, the whole day, it's 'yes, yes'.
This is the official language of the office!

At home, the whole family goes 'yes, yes'.
...

It is Heroes Day holiday,
To commemorate those
Who put their country first
And thought nothing of themselves.
...

(on the advent of ESAP)


Father, I don't understand -
You knock on my door at this ungodly hour
...

Every face encountered
the same question
about places I have been
...

Just listen to yourselves talking -
The family is no more!
So, the family is no more, is it?
Tell me: what are you?
...

I am not stone, chicken or even wind, no!

There was something that bound me to my mother, in her womb,
For nine months, and I did not lack for food.
There is something that unites me with the human family on earth,
...

Those stories about
Children singing and dancing
To celebrate and welcome thunder and lightning
Racing each other in the downpour
...

At night before we sleep, we say, 'See you tomorrow',
There is no point in saying, 'Sleep well',
It is clear to all of us - babies, boys, old folk -
The slushy muddy earth is our bed, the biting wind our blanket
...

Inzwai!
We, in diaspora, overseas, fought this war,
We sourced donations and mobilised foreign support
Yet we never lagged behind in our studies, preparing for the future of our country
...

I heard the word from Macmillan of Britain
There is a new wind blowing in Africa
A wind of change sweeping across Africa
A wind the whole world is warned to take heed of
...

Kubasa, muswere wose inongova "Yes, yes".
Ndiwo mutauro wemuhofisi!

Kumba, mhuri yose inongova "Yes, yes",
Ndiwo mutauro wapinda mubereki nemwana.

Kubhawa, kwose kwose, ndiyoyo, "Yes, yes",
Ndiwo mutauro unodiwa pamadiscussions.

Kumisangano ikoko kwacho, ndiyoyo, "Yes, yes",
Ndirwo rurimi rwadzo politics.

Kana mumagudza, paruvato, ndizvozvo, "Yes, darling",
Ndirwo rurimi rusinganetsi kutaura zvinodikwa.

Hamenowo ikoko kwacho kudenga,
Pamwe inongova, "Yes, yes" - ChiShona kwete!
...

In the work place, the whole day, it's "yes, yes".
This is the official language of the office!

At home, the whole family goes "yes, yes".
That's the new language between parent and child.

In the beer-hall, everywhere you turn it's "yes, yes".
This is the best language for argument and discussion.

Those political rallies and gatherings, it is "yes, yes".
To understand politics best use this language.

In bed, just before going to sleep, again "yes, darling".
Wishes are more easily made and more quickly granted in this language.

Maybe - I don't know - maybe, up there, in Heaven,
It's also "yes, yes" everywhere, and chiShona?
Strictly forbidden!
...

Izororo ramagamba,
Kuremekedza vaya,
Vakaisa nyika mberi,
Upenyu hwavo kumashure.

Izororo ramagamba,
Mabhawa akati pa-a,
Zvikari, mabhotoro, zviri kuzeya,
Ronwiwa zvese nevana varo.

Izororo ramagamba,
Mvana nemachinda adzo,
Ibishi mumakwenzi, makoronga, nemumotikari,
Kupana njovhera murudo rwekunyepera.

Izororo ramagamba,
Vane mari nemasimba,
Vari kunzveyesana, nyama dzichigochwa,
Uku vachiruka mazano ekumora imwe mari.

Izororo ramagamba,
Nyika yose iri mujakwatira rorufaro,
Magamba ari kudyiwa nehonye,
Mhuri dzavo dziri mumisodzi.

Izororo ramagamba, nai?
...

It is Heroes Day holiday,
To commemorate those
Who put their country first
And thought nothing of themselves.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
Beer-halls are packed to bursting,
Beer mugs and bottles are dancing in hands
As carousers drink beyond drinking.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
Some have already paired off illicitly,
The bush is on fire - some in dongas, others in cars
As they exchange STDs in the false name of love.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
The rich and powerful
Dance their intrigue games round braais
As they weave new plans for the next plunder.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
The whole nation is awash with joy,
Somewhere, worms are feeding on the heroes,
The heroes' families are in deep mourning.

It is Heroes Day holiday, is it?
...

(Pakuuya kwe ESAP)



Baba, chokwadi mandikanda parumananzombe.
Munondigugudzira runyanhiriri runo, chimhukutira,
Monditi, "Sunga manyatera tirove pasi, izvozvi,
Usunge dzibate, rwendo rwacho rurefu-refu!"

Inga munoziva wani, ndiri munhu wemhuri,
Ndongonyangarika sedova mashambanzou ano,
Ndisina chandasiya ndapaka munzeve dzemhuri?
Hamuoni, ndikadzoka musha rangova dongo?

Inga munoziva, baba, kusunga ndinosunga chose,
Asika ndingasunga sei, zvakasimba sei chaizvo,
Ndisingazivi kureba kwerwendo rwamaronga?
Kune makata here, materu here, zuva here, chando here?

Madii kujekesa: ndepiko kwatakananga kwacho?
Kunei chaita kuti muronge sedimikira kudai?
Ndianiko ambokurotsai rwendo rwacho urwu?
Inga zvinenge zvaIsaka naAbrama kugomo reMoria!
...