Poem: Kulira Kwanga

Kulira Kwanga
Poem by Kondwani Kamiyala, as recited before President Bingu wa Mutharika on Anti-Corruption Day, 2005


Uku ndi kulira kwanga
Kulilira mchimwene wanga
Wapita nayo njala
atalephera kuhonga wachimanga

Koposadi ndamulira
poti ampingo
anakana kuyimbiea
chifukwa abusa
zam'manja sadapatsidwe

Dzana adalephera
wakumadzi ulendo
kumaphunziro
adalibe passport
Passport Officer ankafuna
naye atadyapo

Dzulo ntchito adamukana mkulu wangayu
Olemba amafuna ya Fanta
Osati degree yake

Inde, malume anga ndiwalira
Atsikira kuli chete, osathandizidwa
Dotolo atapotoza mlomo anati:
m'thumba sapisa ndi chibakela

Kuuza mtolankhani zakulira kwanga
Mopanda mankhalu anandilumira mano
“Opanda chipondamthengo kapena kuwasha
palibe nkhani apa”

Mayi Malawi, imvani kulira kwanga
Laziphuphu tchimo, n'lowawa zedi

Inu andale, azamalamulo
Atolankhani, apolisi, abizinesi
achipatala, amipingo
eeeeeh, a Malawi tonse
tithane ndiziphuphu
kuti lathu dziko tikweze
kuti liyende mkaka ndi uchi waulemelero
osati m'masautso a mandimu ndi tsabola

Ziphuphu zioneka zokoma
pakuti okoma maina odyera tiziveka
Ndikakudyereni kuchipatala kodi?
Mbuzitu mbuzi, idya apo ayimangilira
Wamkachisi, indetu atero Ambuye, zamkachisi adzadya
Ya Fanta iyi mayi; Baba, ya transport nayi
Mopanda manyazi inde ndinenadi:
changu pamalo; changu patauni

Inu mizozodo ya katangale ndi ziphuphu
Ndinso abale anzanga osolora
Chenjerani, ndalira mokwana
No tolerance, I repeat, zero tolerance
for corrupt minds

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