A Letter To My Comrade

It’s not dear Comrade

There are no salutations

The news is bad news and sad

Zimb’indaba

Ngezotsheko losan’engutsheni zenkosi

Ngezomsuzo womkhenyan’ esiyavela

Hatshi kubi, kufana lempisi

The revolution which we started

Has lost meaning and sense

The combat spirit we once had

The gallantry we twice had

Has been quenched

By the money from borrowed land

Comrade, it’s not dear

Just like Lobengula when they came

Though uninvited,

The sugar was sweet thus he sold

Today Comrade,

You have forgotten the raison d'être

You are dining with the mischievous sprite

As you look at me

You see a conspirator, trouble causer

My comrade, commit to memory

Supping with the devil needs a long dollop

Eginy’amagan’ilomdid’obanzi

Othiy’iqaqa ulithel’iskhun’esbunu

Yebo mfowethu empini

Okwamaganyana kuphela ngendlela

Udle ubekel’ikusasa

Uhlal’usazi akuqili lazikho’emhlane

Indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili

Remember Comrade

Oyitshayileyo kakayicuthi

Oyicuthileyo kakayosi

Oyosileyo kakayidli

Oyidlileyo udlicala

Ngokomanyano lokho mfowethu

Baginywa lwana nyaka abanye

Bathi besaginywa baginywa njalo

Laphel’iphupho

Baphenduk’izitha zezwe

Babizwa amawuwu, imikhaza, izinja

Babizwa imigaxa,imigodoyi, imikhongolo

Lawe uzawathol’ amagama mfowethu

Uzafuna ngikusize

Uzakunya, udla wedwa amganu

Ngethemba ulobanzi

Comrade, there were no salutations

I close the letter in no respect

For, traitors like you

Deserve a bullet in their heard

But I am convinced

Those whom you dine with

Will definitely do it for us.