True Story

 True Story 

It happened in Tsholotsho, at Siphogweni Primary school. The school where I did part of my education. The place is a rural area, and I remember she was doing grade 6 and I was doing grade 3. She had stolen someone's lunch, ate it but they found out that it was her, and she did all this before break time. There is a borehole at the school where I used to learn and during break time we used to drink water there. So she came there and found us, we used to take turns, one would pump for the other and then vice-versa. Behind her was a group of several students taunting her and calling her all sorts of names because of the act that she did. It was a disgrace. The way they treated her, they said that's what she deserved. When she came closer these grade sixes told us the lower grades not to pump for her cause she was a thief, and anyone who would help her would automatically be identifying himself/herself as one with her. What happened next was a pitiful scene!😔. She would take one or two pump moves and run to the water outlet before it all water runs out. And I was watching her doing all that, I felt like helping her but I was afraid of being seen as one who identified himself with her as they said. I stood there, didn't leave, deep down I have a struggle as if they could see what I was thinking they kept repeating those words. She did all this several times until she quenched her thirst. My fellow grade threes were long gone and those grade sixes. At first when she came she looked shameful and regretful but that gradually changed as they continued taunting her, she became hard. " Akulandaba, vele ngizazipompela " these are the words that she said as she returned hate for hate. She had a beautiful name😊. Nkazimulo , that's her name, meaning Glory . I don't know why she was given that name, and it's sad that her life's walk wasn't according to her name cause even in my village she was known of stealing and being taunted would be her price always, worse she was a girl, people are used to guys as thieves not ladies. Now, when I look back at what I did, I too regret. Am sure tha had Jesus been there standing physically, he would have pumped water for her despite that she was a disgraceful thief. And the beauty of the glory(inkazimulo) of the Lord would have been shown to her as it was shown to the woman at the well, Zacharius and Mary Magdalene. And started from that she would have been won to HIM through unconditional help. Thief or not a thief. I tell you what, that day, Jesus was there in Spirit whispering to me to help her but I disappointed HIM, I denied HIM the chance for HIS name to be glorified and a soul was lost into darkness. I believe taunting was never gonna work to reform her, love was. I hope Nkazimulo is still alive and a reformed person ( reformed through someone's heeding to the voice of the Spirit, cause when I was given a chance I failed) and I hope to see her some day. How do you view God?

Written by Mbongeni Manaba