Ukuthela Izithelo ‘EsiQhingini Sezinongo’

EMANZINI afudumele, acwebezelayo oLwandle iCaribbean ‘kunesiQhingi Sephunga Elimnandi esincane.’ Ngelinye igama sibizwa ngokuthi iGrenada, sinendawo engamakhilomitha skwele angama-311 kuphela. Ingani, ngisho neziqhingi ezingaphansi kwaso, iCarriacou nePetit Martinique, indawo isiyonke ingamakhilomitha skwele angama-344 kuphela. IGrenada yaqanjwa igama elithi “IsiQhingi Sephunga Elimnandi” ngenxa yokuvama kwamaphunga amnandi, njengokinamona, amacloves, ubhontshisi itonka, nenutmeg.

Ukusuka enyakatho kuya eningizimu, isiqhingi sidatshulwa intaba engena phakathi olwandle, ikakhulukazi ngasohlangothini olungasentshonalanga. Imifula nemifudlana yamanzi acwebile igeleza phansi olwandle, futhi amahlathi achumayo akuma-tropics avamile. Phakathi nenkathi yokomisa, amathafa nezihosha ezincane kumbozwa izimbali ezibomvu ngokugqamile neziphuzi zemithi yasendle yeimmortelle neyepoui. Lombukiso onemibala wenezelwa izinhlobonhlobo zezitshalo ezinjalo eziveza izimbali njengebougainvillea, hibiscus, isnow-on-the-mountain, ama‘belles’ anamakha anuka kamnandi.

Isici esivelele seGrenada ugu lolwandle olugudlwe yilala, olunesihlabathi esihle, esimhlophe. Umnotho ngokwesiko uye wasekelwa ukuthengiselwa kwamazwe angaphandle izitshalo ezinjengobhanana, ukhokho, namanutmeg, wenezelwe ukufika kwezivakashi nezimali ezibalulekile ezithunyelwa izihlobo eziye zathuthela ezindaweni ezinjengeAruba, iCuracao, iNgilandi, iTrinidad, iUnited States, neVenezuela. Izakhamuzi zaseGrenada ezinobungane eziyizi-112 000 zimamatheka njalo futhi zinekhono lokuphendula ingxoxo emfushane ibe indaba ehlekisayo.

Ukutshala Imbewu Yeqiniso

Imbewu yeqiniso yatshalwa kulesisiqhingi esimibalabala phakathi no-1914, unyaka iMpi Yezwe I eyagqashuka ngawo. UElias James waseGrenada, wabuya ngalesosikhathi ePanama. Njengesisebenzi esivela kwelinye izwe lapho, wayeye wasemukela isigijimi soMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi waba isikhonzi esizinikezele, sabhapathizwa. Wayekushisekela ukuhlwanyela imbewu yeqiniso phakathi kwabantu abanobungane balesiqhingi esinephunga elimnandi. Ngokushesha, wathintana nomunye onguMnu. Briggs, waseBarbados ohlala eGrenada. UBriggs wasemukela ngokushesha isigijimi soMbuso, ngakho eba isithelo sokuqala ‘esiQhingini Sephunga Elimnandi.’ Ebona isidingo sendawo yokuhlangana, uBriggs wenza indawo esesitezi sokuqala sendlu yakhe yatholakala njengendawo yokuhlangana yabantu bakaJehova enhlokodolobha, iSt. George’s.

Njengesikhonzi esizinikele nesikhulumi esiqaphuzayo, uElias James wasiza abantu abaningi abaqotho. Phakathi kwabo kwakungumakoti womfowabo, uChriselda James. Namuhla, uneminyaka engama-88, uwukuphela komuntu ongumKristu ogcotshiwe esiqhingini. Wakhulisa umkhaya wabantwana abayisishiyagalolunye naphezu kokuphikisa okuqhubekayo komyeni wakhe, bonke abantwana abayisishiyagalolunye baba oFakazi ababhapathiziwe. Abathathu sebashona, kodwa abanye baseyizikhonzi ezishisekayo, ababili basenkonzweni yobuphayona futhi oyedwa ukhonza njengephayona elikhethekile nanjengomdala.

Ngesikhathi uElias James eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni, wayesesize kakhulu ngokuvula indlela yokutshala imbewu yeqiniso eGrenada. Namuhla, kunamabandla ayisithupha alapho nelilodwa eliseCarriacou, elinenani eliphakeme labamemezeli boMbuso abangama-353.

Phakathi neminyaka yokwanda okuhamba kancane kodwa okuphikelelayo, oFakazi abathembekile baye baphila phakathi kwezinguquko zezombangazwe ezihlukahlukene—kusukela ekubeni yizwe elikhululekile ngo-1974. Phakathi naleyonkathi, kwakungekho kuphikiswa okuphawulekayo kwezindaba ezinhle, futhi abantu ngokuvamile babenesifiso sokulalela izindaba ezinhle, ngezinye izikhathi ngenxa yenhlonipho nje kuphela. Ngo-1979 ushintsho emibonweni engokwezombangazwe phakathi kwabathile yaholela ekugumbuqelweni kombuso ngendlovu yangena okwaletha iPeople’s Revolutionary Government emandleni ombuso. Nakuba abaningi baba nomuzwa wokuthi umsebenzi wenkolo wawuzophathwa isimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni, lokhu akuzange kwenzeke, futhi umsebenzi wokukhiqiza izithelo zoMbuso waqhubekela phambili.

Ushintsho olukhulu lwenzeka ngo-October 19, 1983, usuku abantu baseGrenada abayolukhumbula isikhathi eside. I-RMC (Revolutionary Military Council) ngalesosikhathi yathatha amandla njengohulumeni. Ongqongqoshe bakahulumeni abaningana badutshulwa bafa kanye nenani elingachaziwe lezakhamuzi.

Lokhu kwalandelwa ngokushesha ukumiswa kwesikhathi sezinsuku ezine sokuvinjelwa kwabantu ukuba bangahambahambi ngaphandle ubusuku nemini, ukubonakala komuntu kwakuyosho ukudutshulwa kwakhe khona lapho. Lezizehlakalo zobudlova, okuhlangenwe nakho okusha kwabantu abanokuthula basesiqhingini, zaqalisa ukwesaba okusakazekile ezindlini zabo, kwaba khona ubunzima obukhulu, ikakhulukazi kwabagulayo nasebegugile.

Entathakusa ngoLwesibili, ngo-October 25, 1983, abantu abaningi baseGrenada bavuswa ukuduma okungavamile kwezindiza, okwanqanyulwa ukuqhuma okukhulu kanye nokuqhuma kwezibhamu okunezikhawu. Kamuva, ngesiteshi somsakazo sendawo, bezwa ukuthi amasosha akwamanye amazwe ayesefike esiqhingini. Amabutho ahlangene e-OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) namaSosha Asolwandle aseUnited States ayeye agxambukela ngokwezempi, kubikwa ukuthi ngemva kokuba uMphathi Jikelele ecele usizo. Phakathi namahora ambalwa, zombili izikhumulo zezindiza (iPearls nePoint Salines) zaba ngaphansi kokuphathwa ngamabutho aseCaribbean nawaseUnited States. Ekuseni, iGrenada yaba yindawo yezindaba zomhlaba wonke.

Ukulwa okunzima kwagqashuka phakathi kwamasosha akwamanye amazwe nakulawo abambelele kuyi-RMC. Nokho, lokhu kwakunamandla endaweni yaseSt. George’s. Abantu abaningi lapho bachitha lezozinsuku zobudlova ngaphansi kwemibhede yabo. Abanye babesaba kakhulu ngisho nokuya ekhishini ukuyolungiselela ukudla kwemikhaya yabo. Ngokujabulisayo, akekho koFakazi BakaJehova esiqhingini owalimala phakathi kokulwa. Nokho, abambalwa bacishe bafa.

Isibindi SobuKristu Phakathi Kwenxushunxushu

Omunye uFakazi wesifazane wayenalokho umdala wendawo akuchaza ‘njengokusinda ngokulambisa ekufeni.’ Wabika: ‘Lodade wafuna isiphephelo endlini kamakhelwane wakhe, lapho ayenomuzwa wokuthi wayeyolondeka ngokwengeziwe khona. Yena nabanye abanikazi bendlu bezwa izinhlamvu zezibhamu zivela egqumeni elengame indlu. Amabutho asolwandle aseU.S. aqala ukudubula indlu, ekholelwa ukuthi izinhlamvu zazisuka kuyo. Bonke endlini bawela phansi ngokushesha. Lapho lisathe nyá ithala lezinhlamvu, umnikazi wendlu wagijimela phandle ethukile ephethe ishidi lombhede elimhlophe. Bonke abasendlini bamlandela bephuma, kuhlanganise nodadewethu othukile. Ngenkathi bonke bemi egcekeni, elinye ithala lezinhlamvu labhekiswa kubo, kodwa manje livela egqumeni lapho ukudubula kwakuqale khona. Naphezu kwesichotho sezinhlamvu, amasosha asolwandle abadonsela ngokushesha endaweni elondekile. Ngokumangalisayo, akekho owalimala. Amasosha asolwandle kamuva abatshela ukuthi babenenhlanhla impela, ngoba ayesezoyidubula ngebhomu indlu, ecabanga ukuthi amasosha e-RMC ayephakathi futhi ewadubula. Lapho konke ukwethuka sekuphelile, udadewethu othandekayo wathola iva elingamasentimitha ayi-5 onyaweni lwakhe. Akazange aze abuzwe ngisho nobuhlungu lapho limhlaba!’

Njengoba ukulwa kwakuqhubeka, enye indodakazi yomdala eneminyaka eyisihlanu yawela ngaphakathi endlini yakubo futhi yephuka ingalo yangakwesobunxele. Kwakungenakwenzeka ukuthola usizo lokwelashwa ngalesosikhathi. Okuwukuphela kwento abazali ababengayenza kwakuwukunika umntwana amaphilisi ukuze adambise ubuhlungu. Ezinsukwini eziningana kamuva lapho izinto sezithe ukuthula, bayisa umntwana kudokotela wamathambo. Lapho ehlolwa kwatholakala ukuthi wayephuke ezindaweni eziningana. Nokho, amathambo kakade ayesesendaweni yawo, futhi ukwelashwa kwakuqhubeka kahle ngaphandle kwanoma iziphi izinkinga. Ngokungangabazeki, abazali abathintekile bajabula kakhulu.

Okwakumangalisa kakhulu, omunye udade obuthakathaka wathola ukuthi wayenamandla kanjani ngokomzimba. Umyeni wakhe, onesifo sikashukela futhi omedlula ngokuphindwe kabili ngesisindo, waquleka futhi washayeka phansi ngesinye isikhathi phakathi nokwenqatshelwa kwabo ukuhamba ngaphandle. Kwakunguyena yedwa umuntu omdala endlini futhi wayengakwazi ukuthola usizo lwangaphandle. Ngakho, yini eyayingenziwa? Udade wabika: “Ngakhala kuJehova futhi ngacela usizo. Ngingasho ngokuqinisekile ukuthi uJehova wakuzwa ukunxusa kwami ngobuqotho. Ngomzamo onzima, ngakwazi ukuvusa umyeni wami phansi futhi ngamhlalisa kwaze kwaba yilapho esephaphama futhi. Ngingathi nje amandla engawathola lapho ayevela kuJehova.”

Phakathi nokulwa okufushane, kodwa okunzima, abadala abamisiwe baba namathuba amaningi okuzibonakalisa ngokwabo ‘beyizivikelo ezivunguvungwini.’ (Isaya 32:1, 2) Ukuze banikeze usizo olubonakalayo nenduduzo engokomoya, babefaka ukulondeka kwabo engozini ngisho nokuphila kwabo lapho bevakashela abazalwane abaningi, ikakhulukazi lapho ukulwa kwakunzima khona.

Omunye umdala nomkhaya wakhe babephakathi kwamakhulu abantu abakhishwa emakhaya abo bayiswa ekamu lesiphephelo. Kwakumelwe babekezelele ukuqhuma okuvala izindlebe okuvela kombayimbayi. Okunye ukuqhuma okunjalo kwalahla phansi ngokoqobo umdala, umkakhe, nendodakazi yabo. Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi wakwazi kanjani ukuqhubeka enokuthula phakathi nalolosizi, wathi: “Ukungesabi kwami nokuthula kwakuwumphumela weminyaka yokutadisha ngokujulile iZwi likaNkulunkulu, owangakha futhi kwangilungiselela lesisimo esingavamile.” Ngakho, lomdala wakwazi ukuba nokuthula futhi aduduze oFakazi kulelokamu.

Emasontweni ambalwa kamuva, lapho amasosha aseU.S. nawaseCaribbean ephethe sonke isiqhingi, isigungu sokuphatha sesikhashana samiswa. Lokhu kwanikeza okungenani isikhathi esihle sokwenza ukhetho. Lwenziwa ngoDecember 3, 1984. Ngaphansi kweNew National Party eholwa uNdunankulu uHerbert Blaize, ubudlova besikhathi esidlule bubonakala sebunyamalele, futhi abaningi babheke phambili esikhathini esizayo esiqhakazile.

Ukuqiniselwa Umsebenzi Ongaphambili

Izenzakalo zamuva ziye zasebenzela ukuqinisa bonke oFakazi BakaJehova eGrenada. Baye babona amandla kaJehova okusindisa futhi bazimisele ukuqinisa imizamo yabo yokushumayela ngoMbuso. Abantu abaningi abaqotho nabanhliziyo ziqotho ababonisa isithakazelo esinentshiseko esigijimini soMbuso babephakathi kwabangama-914 ababekhona emkhosini weSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu ngoApril 1985. Ngamunye koFakazi abangama-350 abasesiqhingini, cishe abantu abathakazelayo ababili babekhona ngaleyonkathi. Yeka ukwanda kwesikhathi esizayo okungenzeka!

Ubuhle obungokwemvelo beGrenada bunikeza nje ukusikisela okuthile ngalokho iPharadesi elithenjisiwe lasemhlabeni eliyoba yikho. IPharadesi elinjalo lembulunga yonke liyisithembiso esiqinisekile soMdali womhlaba, uJehova. Ngokushesha abalungileyo “bazakudla ifa lomhlaba, bahlale kuwo njalonjalo.” (IHubo 37:10, 11, 29) Bonke oFakazi BakaJehova bayakujabulela futhi bayakushisekela ukuhlanganyela lesigijimi esivusa amadlingozi sethemba nabantu baseGrenada abakanye nabo kuso sonke ‘lesiQhingi Sephunga Elimnandi.’