Nkunz’ emnyama ephila ngokwethusela.
Sil’ esidla abantwabaso ,
Sadl’ abamnyama,
Sadl’ abamhlophe,
Sadl’ amathole,
Sadla lenkunzi,
Sadl’ izalukazi lamaxegu.
Bakuph’ oCithigazi?
Bakhal’ eguswini.
Bakuph’ oNhlalakahle?
Batshayana ngamakhanda nje.
Sith’ esiza ngobungane,
Aabemuk’ okaNkomo,
Kwaba yikulala kwesizwe.
Mhlawumbe siyovuka ngokuza kwendodana yomuntu.
Ngemali wabathenga abafundi bakho.
Wabaphosa emagumbini amane elizwe.
Ngezipho, bayitshumayela eyakho inkohliso.
Okwesithuko esilamandla,
Yasibopha isizwe, zatsha zaphela ezaso impande.
Wena thole elingela melusi.
Abanye babuzana ngokuthi uLobengula watshonaphi?.
Thina sibuzana ngokuthi wena wavelaphi ?
Kuyasethusa ukungazi ukuthi
balelephi okhokho balendlondlo.
Wena womfolo ngaphansi kwamakhala,
Oluphawu lwabancindezeli,
Lusikhumbuza isitha samajuda, ngaphetsheya kolwandle.
Wahluphek’ uzul’ ubhekile,
ena wangasweli buthongo ngalokho.
Wasithath’ isizwe wasibophela enqulwini…
Bakhomba ngophakathi lab’ abakukhonzayo,
zaba mfitshane izinsuku zalabo abangakuthokozisiyo.
Uzulu waphephel’ ezizweni,
Waphathwa okwesigqili.
Zagcwala amagusu lamagceke
Izizukulwane zikaMzilikazi,
Yaba nzim’ eyaz’ impilo,
Bafis’ ukuba nga okhokho bayavuka,
Babeyibo abakugwaza ngemibuzo
Bakuthumbe baphindele lawe lapho abakhona.
Sihlahla sekadeni,
esingahlalwa nyoni,
esala ukoma sala lokuthela.
Ithemba lethu litshabalele
singathola inkuni kuwe singabonga.
Alfred Ndhlovu is a researcher and a PhD candidate in the Department of Historical and Museum Studies at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Born in Gweru, Midlands, Ndhlovu is a former student and assistant lecturer of the University of Zimbabwe.