I-Angola

Impi nokuntuleka kokudla, izifo ezibulalayo, ukuhlupheka nokufa okubangelwa abantu abaziphathisa okwezilwane—befanekiselwa abakhweli bamahhashi e-“Apocalypse,” konke lokhu iBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi kuyokwenzeka osukwini lwethu. (IsAm. 6:3-8) Umhlaba wonke uthintekile. I-Angola nayo ayiphunyukanga.

Imiphumela yokugabavula kwala mahhashi e-apocalypse ibonakala kulo lonke leli zwe. Kubahambele kanjani oFakazi BakaJehova phakathi nalezi zimo?

OFakazi abaningi babe izisulu zokushushiswa okunonya. Abanye baye babulawa beyizibukeli ezingenacala empini yombango enesihluku nengapheli. Abaningi baye babhekana nemiphumela emibi yendlala ebangelwa izinxushunxushu zezombusazwe nezentengiselwano. Kodwa akukho lutho olunciphise ukholo abanalo kuJehova uNkulunkulu nokuthembela kwabo eZwini lakhe. Banesifiso esiqotho sokuhlala bethembekile kuNkulunkulu futhi banikeze ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi kwabanye ngezinjongo zakhe. Futhi uthando ababonisana lona lunikeza ubufakazi obugculisayo bokuthi bangabafundi bakaJesu Kristu beqiniso.—Joh. 13:35.

Cabangela izibonelo ezimbili ezibonisa ubukhulu bokholo lwabo. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-40 edlule, isikhulu samaphoyisa satshela uFakazi KaJehova ngokuqiniseka okukhulu: “Lapha e-Angola . . . , inhlangano ye-Watch Tower iphele nya!” Ngemva nje kwalokho sasongela uFakazi ongowokuzalwa e-Angola. “Uyazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani kuwe?” kubuza lesi sikhulu ngolaka. Waphendula ngomoya ophansi: “Ngiyakwazi ongakwenza kimina. Kodwa okubi kakhulu ongakwenza ukungibulala. Kukhona okungaphezu kwalokho ongakwenza? Kodwa ngeke ngilulahle ukholo lwami.” Naphezu kokuphathwa ngesihluku emajele nasemakamu okujeziswa, lowo Fakazi, uJoão Mancoca, uye wabambelela ngokuqinile kuleso sinqumo.

Muva nje, umdala wasesifundazweni saseHuambo wabhala: “Isimo sethu sibi kabi. Ukuntuleka okukhulu kokudla nemithi kukhungathekisa amabandla. Asinawo amazwi okuchaza isimo esikhona nendlela abafowethu ababukeka ngayo.” Kodwa wabuye wathi: “Yize isimo sethu esingokwenyama sisibi, siyaphila ngokomoya. Kwenzeka kona kanye lokhu okwabikezelwa kuMathewu isahluko 24 nakweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.”

Yini eyenza abantu basabele kahle kangaka bebe bebhekene nobunzima obukhulu kangaka? Ukholo nesibindi esibangelwa ukungathembeli kubona ngokwabo noma kwabanye abantu, kodwa ukuthembela eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ophethwe uJesu Kristu. Bayazi ukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ubani obonakala enqoba okwamanje, noma ukuthi isimo sibonakala sinzima kanjani, injongo kaNkulunkulu iyophumelela. Baqiniseka ngokuphelele ukuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, ebusa isezulwini, iyonqoba nokuthi ngaphansi kokubusa kwayo umhlaba uyoba ipharadesi. (Dan. 7:13, 14; IsAm. 6:1, 2; 19:11-16) OFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola bangofakazi bokuzibonela bokuthi ngisho kwamanje uNkulunkulu unikeza abantu ababuthaka amandla angaphezu kwavamile ukuze bakwazi ukukhuthazela.—2 Kor. 4:7-9.

Kodwa singakaningilizi ngomlando wabantu bakaJehova e-Angola, ake uzwe ngezwe abahlala kulo.

Izwe Elihle Kodwa Elingakathuthukiswa

I-Angola iseningizimu-ntshonalanga ye-Afrika, enyakatho igudle iDemocratic Republic of Congo, eningizimu yayo kuneNamibia, empumalanga kuneZambia, kanti entshonalanga kune-Atlantic Ocean. Ingamakhilomitha-skwele angu-1 246-700, ithi ayibe ngangeFrance ihlangene ne-Italy neJalimane. Icishe iyiphinde izikhathi ezingu-14 iPortugal, yona eyaqala ukwenza i-Angola ikoloni layo ngekhulu le-16. Ngenxa yokuba ikoloni lamaPutukezi, abantu abangaba amaphesenti angu-50 bathi bangamaKatolika.

IsiPutukezi sisewulimi olusemthethweni, kodwa e-Angola kukhulunywa izilimi eziningi. Ezilimini ezingu-40 ezikhulunywa lapha, abantu abaningi bakhuluma isi-Umbundu, isiKimbundu nesiKikongo.

Eminyakeni edlule ingcebo yase-Angola iye yathathwa yayiswa kwamanye amazwe. Ngenkathi imiswa iba ikoloni, izigqila eziyizigidi zathunyelwa eBrazil, nayo eyayiyikoloni lePortugal ngaleso sikhathi. Umhlabathi ovundile wase-Angola wake wakhiqiza inala kabhanana, umango, uphayinaphu, umoba nekhofi. Ngemva kokuphela kwekoloni, ukuthuthuka komnotho kwakhinyabezwa izimpi zombango. Noma kunjalo, i-Angola isacebile nge-petroleum, izindawo ezinedayimane nensimbi exubene namatshe. Kodwa ingcebo yayo enkulu kakhulu ingabantu abathobekile nabazimisele, izinkulungwane zabo eziye zabonisa uthando olujulile ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu nesithembiso salo sekusasa eliqhakazile ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

“Thumela Isinkwa Sakho Ebusweni Bamanzi”

Umsebenzi wokuqala owabikwa woFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola wenziwa uGray Smith nomkakhe, u-Olga, umbhangqwana ongamaphayona waseCape Town, eNingizimu Afrika. Ngo-July 1938 basuka eGoli ngemoto eyayiklanyelwe ukumemezela izinkulumo zeBhayibheli eziqoshiwe. Le moto yayigcwele izincwadi ze-Watch Tower. Ohambweni lwabo lwezinyanga ezintathu, abakwaSmith bathola izikhokhelo ze-Nqabayokulinda, bahambisa amaBhayibheli, izincwadi nezincwajana ezingu-8 158. Bahambisa izincwadi zeBhayibheli bazihambisa ezindaweni eziningi kakhulu, bafinyelela kubantu baseBenguela, eLuanda, eSá da Bandeira (manje eyiLubango), nakwamanye amadolobha asentshonalanga ye-Angola. Kodwa ngonyaka olandelayo kwagqashuka iMpi Yezwe II, ngakho kwaba nzima ukuxhumana njalo nabantu ababebonise isithakazelo.

Okwesikhathi esithile akubonakalanga miphumela etheni emkhankasweni wabo wokushumayela. Kodwa isimiso esikumShumayeli 11:1 saba yiqiniso: “Thumela isinkwa sakho ebusweni bamanzi, ngoba uyophinde futhi usithole ngokuhamba kwezinsuku eziningi.”

Enye imbewu yeqiniso yathatha iminyaka andukuba ihlume, njengoba kubonisa umbiko ovela eSifundazweni SaseHuíla. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yalolo hambo lokushumayela lwabakwaSmith, uMnu. Andrade wakhumbula ukuthi ngesikhathi eneminyaka engu-41 ubudala futhi ehlala eSá da Bandeira, wayethole izincwadi ezithile ze-Watch Tower kumuntu mumbe owayedlula ngemoto evela eNingizimu Afrika. Ngaleso sikhathi wathola incwadi ethi Riches nesikhokhelo se-Nqabayokulinda. Wabhalela igatsha laseBrazil, futhi leli gatsha lahlela ukuba aqhutshelwe isifundo seBhayibheli ngokubhalelwa izincwadi. Kodwa kamuva lesi sifundo samiswa lapho uMnu. Andrade ethola ukuthi iposi lakhe lalivulwa lihlolwe. Wadukelana noFakazi iminyaka eminingi.

Ngo-1967, uZuleika Fareleiro, owayesanda kubhapathizwa, wathuthela eSá da Bandeira. Wayengenalo ulwazi olutheni ngeqiniso, futhi ngaleso sikhathi umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wawuvinjelwe kuleli zwe. Noma kunjalo, wayenesifiso esikhulu sokukuhlanganyela nabanye lokho ayekwazi. Waqala isifundo seBhayibheli nowesifazane owamtshela ukuthi wayazi umkhandi wezicathulo okwakubonakala sengathi ukuyo le nkolo. Udade Fareleiro wahambisa izicathulo ukuba ziyokhandwa, futhi lapho ebonisa lo mkhandi wezicathulo incwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade, wagcwala injabulo. Wakwazi ukuqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye. Le ndoda kwakunguMnu. Andrade, ngaleso sikhathi owayehamba ngenqola yabakhubazekile. Wayecindezelekile ngoba wayebone umkakhe ebulawa. Ngakho ithemba loMbuso lamkhanga, futhi wabambelela ngokuqinile kulo. Wabhapathizwa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1971 futhi wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1981 eneminyaka engu-80. Naphezu kokukhubazeka kwakhe nokukhula, ukuba khona kwakhe njalo kuyo yonke imihlangano yebandla nokuba nengxenye kuyo kwabakhuthaza kakhulu abanye.

Umzamo Wokufundisa Nokuthuthukisa Abantu Base-Angola

Eminyakeni engaba ngu-60 edlule, umlisa onguSimão Toco wayesonta eBaptist enyakatho ye-Angola. Lapho ethutha eM’banza Congo e-Angola eya eLéopoldville eBelgian Congo (manje eyiKinshasa eDemocratic Republic of Congo), uToco wadlula emzini womngane wakhe. Elapho, wabona umagazini i-Luz e Verdade (manje eyi-Despertai!). Kuwona kwakunengxenye okwakuhunyushwe kuyo incwajana ethi The Kingdom, the Hope of the World ngesiPutukezi. UToco wawuthanda, kodwa umngane wakhe wayengenandaba nawo, ngakho wathi uToco makawuthathe. Wayithola kanjalo naye incwadi yeBhayibheli eyayinyatheliswe oFakazi BakaJehova.

Esefikile eLéopoldville ngo-1943, uToco waphemba ikwaya, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi eyanda yaba namalungu amaningi. Ngenxa yokuthi wayezimisele ukufundisa nokuthuthukisa abantu bakubo e-Angola ababedingisiwe, wahumushela incwajana ethi The Kingdom, the Hope of the World olimini lwesiKikongo. Kancane kancane, ezingomeni ayeziqamba wayefaka nethemba loMbuso namanye amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayesewafundile. Wayesebenzisa lokho kwaziswa nasezingxoxweni zeBhayibheli ayeba nazo namalungu athile ekwaya yakhe. UJoão Mancoca, omunye umuntu wase-Angola owayesebenza eLéopoldville, waqala ukuzihlanganisa neqembu likaToco lesifundo seBhayibheli ngo-1946. Imihlangano yayiqhutshwa ngoMgqibelo nangeSonto kusihlwa, futhi uMancoca wayehlale ephakathi kwabangu-50 noma ngaphezulu ababeba khona.

Ngo-1949 amalungu aleli qembu aba nesifiso sokutshela abanye ngalokho ayekufunda, ngakho amaningi aya koshumayela eLéopoldville. Abefundisi bamaBaptist neziphathimandla zaseBelgian zawotha ubomvu. Kungakabiphi, abaningi eqenjini likaToco baboshwa. UJoão Mancoca wayengomunye wabo. Bagqunywa ejele izinyanga eziningana. Kwathi labo abenqaba ukuhlukana nale nhlangano kaToco eyayifufusa nabenqaba ukuyeka ukufunda izincwadi ze-Watch Tower Society baphindiselwa kwelakubo, e-Angola. Ekugcineni, babeyinkulungwane.

Iziphathimandla ezingamaPutukezi e-Angola zazingazi ukuthi kumelwe zibenzeni. Ekugcineni, labo ababephindiselwe e-Angola batshalwa ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zezwe.

Cishe kwakungalesi sikhathi, ngo-1950, lapho iqiniso leBhayibheli lafika khona edolobheni elingelesibili ngobukhulu e-Angola, iHuambo, ngaleso sikhathi elalaziwa ngokuthi iNew Lisbon. Intuthuko yathatha isikhathi, kodwa ekugcineni uJoão da Silva Wima, uLeonardo Sonjamba, u-Agostinho Chimbili, uMaria Etosi noFrancisco Portugal Eliseu babephakathi kwalabo ababa izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile kule ndawo. Basiza nemikhaya yabo ukuba ifunde ngoJehova nezindinganiso zakhe ezilungile.

UToco kanye nabanye bathunyelwa enyakatho beyosebenza emasimini ekhofi. Kodwa kuyadabukisa ukuthi umbono kaToco kakade wawusuqalile ukushintsha. Ngesikhathi uToco neqembu lakhe beseseLéopoldville, abalandeli bakaSimão Kimbangu, ababesebenzisa imimoya, babeza emihlanganweni yabo. Kwake kwathi phakathi nomunye umhlangano, kwenzeka okuthile abanye abakubheka njengokuthululwa komoya. Kodwa abazange ‘bavivinye ukuze babone ukuthi lo moya wawusuka kuNkulunkulu yini.’ (1 Joh. 4:1) UJoão Mancoca akumjabulisanga ukubona ukutadisha iBhayibheli kuthathelwa indawo ukuthembela kulowo ‘moya.’

Ngemva kokuphindiselwa e-Angola, uJoão Mancoca wagcina eseseLuanda. UMancoca, kanye noSala Filemon noCarlos Agostinho Cadi, banxusa abanye eqenjini labo ukuba banamathele eBhayibhelini futhi bayeke imikhuba engahambisani nalo. Kamuva, lapho uToco ethuthela endaweni eseningizimu, wanqamula eLuanda. Kwaba sobala ukuthi izinkolelo zabalandeli bakaKimbangu zase zimthonye kakhulu.

Ngo-1952, ngenxa yokumbuluza kothile owayeseqenjini labo, uJoão Mancoca, uCarlos Agostinho Cadi noSala Filemon baboshwa futhi badingiselwa eBaía dos Tigres, ikoloni lokujeziswa elalingaphansi kwemboni yokudoba. Le mbulu kwakungumlisa owayesabeka, enamakhosikazi amabili. Imizamo yakhe yokuzenza umholi weqembu elaliseLuanda yacishe yenza abanye bayeka. Kodwa izindlela zakhe zobuqili zasheshe zamfaka enkingeni neziphathimandla, naye wadingiselwa ekoloni lokujeziswa.

Isivakashi Esinezinhloso Ezintathu

Ngo-1954 ihhovisi laseNingizimu Afrika lathola izincwadi eziningi zivela eqenjini elaliseBaía dos Tigres. Lalizimisele ukuthola izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ngenxa yalokho, uJohn Cooke, isithunywa sevangeli se-Watch Tower, wathunyelwa e-Angola evela eFrance ngo-1955. Wayenezinhloso ezintathu: ukuhlola imibiko eyayithi kunoFakazi abayinkulungwane e-Angola, ukuzama ukubasiza uma kungenzeka, nokubona ukuthi yini eyayingenziwa ukuze umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova umiswe ngokomthetho e-Angola. Ngemva kokuhlangana namaqembu amaningana, uphenyo lwakhe lwezinyanga ezinhlanu lwembula ukuthi oFakazi babengaphansi kakhulu kwenkulungwane. Njengoba kwabonisa umbiko wase-Angola wenkonzo yasensimini ka-1955, kwakunabamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abangu-30 kuphela kulo lonke izwe.

Kwathatha amasonto amaningana ngaphambi kokuba iziphathimandla ezingamaPutukezi zivumele uJohn Cooke ukuba avakashele uJoão Mancoca neqembu elincane elaliseBaía dos Tigres, eningizimu ye-Angola. UMfoweth’ uCooke wavunyelwa ukuba abe lapho izinsuku ezinhlanu, futhi izincazelo zakhe zeBhayibheli zamqinisekisa nakakhulu uMancoca nabanye ukuthi ngempela wayemelele inhlangano ekhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngosuku lokugcina elapho, uMfoweth’ uCooke wanikeza inkulumo yeningi enesihloko esithi “Lezi Zindaba Ezilungileyo ZoMbuso” eqenjini labangaba ngu-80, kuhlanganise nomphathi wekoloni lokujezisa.

Phakathi nezinyanga azichitha e-Angola, uMfoweth’ uCooke wakwazi ukuxhumana noToco kanye nabantu ababesezindaweni ezihlukahlukene ababebheka uToco njengomholi wabo. Abaningi babo babonakala bengabalandeli behlelo likaToco futhi bengenandaba nomsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova. U-António Bizi kuphela, insizwa yaseLuanda, owayezimisele ukufunda okwengeziwe ngezinjongo zikaJehova. NoToco naye wayevaleleke edolobhaneni elithile eduze neSá da Bandeira, engavunyelwe ukuthumela nokuthola iposi.

Ukuvakasha kukaMfoweth’ uCooke kwaba isikhuthazo esikhulu eqenjini elincane labathembekile eBaía dos Tigres. UMfoweth’ uMancoca ukhumbula ukuthi lokho kuvakashelwa kwagcizelela ukuthi “babengaphambukile.” Kwembula nokuthi yize inani loFakazi lalilincane kunelalibikiwe, lalikhona ithuba lokwanda. Embikweni wakhe, uMfoweth’ uCooke wathi abanye babantu ababona “babezimisele ukufunda” futhi “kubonakala sengathi kunensimu enhle lapha.”

Isikhuthazo Esengeziwe

Sekudlule unyaka uMfoweth’ uCooke evakashile, iNhlangano yathumela omunye umzalwane onekhono eLuanda, uMervyn Passlow, umfundi owayephothule eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, kanye nomkakhe u-Aurora. Babenohlu olwalubhalwe uJohn Cooke olwalunamagama abantu abangaba ngu-65 ababenze izikhokhelo nabanye abathakazelayo. Ekuqaleni, abakwaPasslow baba nobunzima bokuthola abantu ababenezikhokhelo ngoba omagazini babethunyelwa emabhokisini aseposini, hhayi emakhaya. Kodwa ngalesi sikhathi owesifazane ogama lakhe linguBerta Teixeira wabuyela eLuanda evela ePortugal. Elapho, wayehlangane noFakazi BakaJehova futhi wabonisa isithakazelo esikhulu eqinisweni leBhayibheli. Ihhovisi laseLisbon latshela abakwaPasslow ukuthi wayezofika, futhi ngokushesha baqala isifundo seBhayibheli naye. Esinye sezihlobo zikaBerta sasisebenza eposini futhi sabasiza ekutholeni amakheli abantu ababenze izikhokhelo, abaningi babo baba abafundi beBhayibheli abazimisele. Ngokushesha nabo base bexoxa nabangane nomakhelwane. Phakathi nezinyanga eziyisithupha abakwaPasslow base befundela abantu abangaphezu kuka-50.

Ngemva kwezinyangana nje befikile abakwaPasslow, baqala ukuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli zasikhathi sonke egumbini labo besebenzisa INqabayokulinda. Ekupheleni kwenyanga yokuqala, leli gumbi laba lincane. UBerta Teixeira wayenesikole sokufundisa izilimi, futhi wanikela ngelinye lamakilasi akhe ukuze kuqhutshelwe kulo imihlangano. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-8 kwaba nobhapathizo lokuqala olwenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola echwebeni laseLuanda.

Ngenxa yesimo sase-Angola ngaleso sikhathi, abakwaPasslow babengakwazi kahle ukuxhumana nabazalwane abaNsundu. Kodwa abanye babo babebavakashela abakwaPasslow. Omunye owayeya khona njalo eyofundelwa kwakungu-António Bizi, uJohn Cooke ayethole ukuthi ungumfundi oqotho. Futhi uJoão Mancoca, esaboshiwe, wayethumelela abakwaPasslow izincwadi zokubakhuthaza.

Nokho, ngokushesha ngemva kobhapathizo lokuqala, uhulumeni wenqaba ukuvuselela ama-visa abakwaPasslow, ngakho kwadingeka balishiye leli zwe. Babenze umsebenzi omuhle wokutshala “imbewu” nokunisela eyayitshalwe abanye. (1 Kor. 3:6) Babeye bakha nesibopho esiqinile sothando nabazalwane base-Angola. Ngenxa yenzondo amaphoyisa ayenayo ngabakwaPasslow, abakwaPasslow baxwayisa abazalwane bendawo, ikakhulukazi abaNsundu, ukuba bangezi ukuzobavalelisa. Kodwa isibopho sothando sasisikhulu kakhulu. Abaningi bafika bezobabonisa uthando njengoba babewela beyogibela umkhumbi.

UHarry Arnott, umbonisi wamagatsha, wayevakashele abakwaPasslow ngo-1958 ngesikhathi beseLuanda. Ngo-February 1959, lapho ephinde ezama ukuvakashela e-Angola njengombonisi wamagatsha, kwakukhona iqembu elincane lizomhlangabeza esikhumulweni sezindiza, kuhlanganise noMfoweth’ uMancoca noDade Teixeira. Kodwa amaphoyisa angenela ngaso leso sikhathi. Ahlukanisa uMfoweth’ u-Arnott naleli qembu futhi asesha izimpahla zakhe.

Ekugcineni, uMfoweth’ u-Arnott wazithola egqunywe egunjini elilodwa noMfoweth’ uMancoca. Bathi bangabonana nje, bayokha insini. Iphoyisa aliyibonanga into ehlekisayo kulokhu. Lathethisa uMancoca: “Uyazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani kuwe?” UMfoweth’ uMancoca, owayesechithe iminyaka eyisithupha ejele futhi ebhaxabulwe kaningi, waphendula ngomoya ophansi: “Ngeke ngikhale. Ngiyakwazi ongakwenza kimina. Kodwa okubi kakhulu ongakwenza ukungibulala. Kukhona okungaphezu kwalokho ongakwenza?” Waphetha ngala mazwi aqinile: “Kodwa ngeke ngilulahle ukholo lwami.” Wabe esebuka uMfoweth’ u-Arnott, wamoyizela sakummisa isibindi. UMfoweth’ u-Arnott uyakhumbula: “Kwakusengathi akanandaba neze nokwenzeka kuye, wayefuna ukuqikelela ukuthi lesi senzakalo asingidikibalisi. Kwakuyisikhathi esikhuthaza kunazo zonke ukubona lo mzalwane oNsundu ethatha ukuma okuqine nokubonisa isibindi kangaka, ngemva kweminyaka eboshiwe.”

UMfoweth’ u-Arnott yena waxoshwa kuleli zwe, waphindela emuva ngayo indiza ayefike ngayo—kodwa kwaba ngemva kokubonana kwakhe okufushane nokwakhayo noMfoweth’ uMancoca. Ngemva kwamahora angu-7 ephenywa ngemibuzo, uMfoweth’ uMancoca naye wadedelwa.

Ngemva kwesonto kwenzeke leso sigigaba, uMfoweth’ uMancoca wagcina esebhapathiziwe kanye nabangane bakhe uCarlos Cadi noSala Filemon. Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, kwaqashwa igumbi eSambizanga, idolobha elincane laseLuanda, futhi yilapha lapho ibandla lokuqala loFakazi BakaJehova elimiswe ngokomthetho e-Angola layiqhubela khona imihlangano yalo. Ngaleso sikhathi, babekwazi ukuvula nokuphetha umhlangano ngengoma, futhi lokhu kuhlabelela kwadonsa abanye ababeseduze. Abaningi kwabahlaba umxhwele ukuthi labo ababeza eSifundweni Se-Nqabayokulinda babeba nengxenye phakathi nomhlangano nokuthi babevunyelwe ukubuza imibuzo ngemva kwemihlangano. Lezi zingxoxo zemibuzo nezimpendulo, ezazingekho emasontweni eLobukholwa, zawufaka umfutho omkhulu umsebenzi lapho.

‘Ukuqapha Njengezinyoka’

Ngo-1960 ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle e-Angola akubange kusaqondiswa eNingizimu Afrika kodwa kwaqondiswa yigatsha lasePortugal. Lokhu kuqiniswa kwezibopho phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova kula mazwe womabili kwakuhlukile ebuhlotsheni bezombangazwe obabuwohloka phakathi kwe-Angola nePortugal, okwase kuyisikhathi eside ibusa i-Angola njengekoloni layo.

Ukuthola uzibuse kweBelgian Congo engumakhelwane nempi yombango eyalandela kwasithinta kakhulu isimo sezombangazwe e-Angola. Uhulumeni owawubusa leli koloni waqapha ngokwengeziwe, kodwa wehluleka ukuvimba impi yabashokobezi yokufuna ukuba i-Angola ithole uzibuse. Ngo-January 1961 kwabheduka udlame e-Angola emaphakathi. Umphumela waba umzamo wokuqumba phansi uhulumeni eLuanda ngo-February. Kwathi ngo-March, ngemva kokuhilizisana ngamaholo endaweni yaseKongo esenyakatho eyayikhungethwe ubumpofu, abantu base-Angola babulala amaPutukezi angamakhulukhulu. Nawo abe eseziphindiselela kabi kakhulu.

Phakathi nawo-1960 kwavumbuka izinhlangano ezintathu ezinkulu ezazimelene nokuba khona kwamakoloni: i-Popular Liberation Movement of Angola yamakhomanisi (Movimento Popular de Libertac̩ão de Angola; MPLA), i-National Front for the Liberation of Angola (Frente Nacional de Libertac̩ão de Angola; FNLA) ne-National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola; UNITA).

Ngokushesha le mpi yombango yalidalela izinkinga iqembu elincane loFakazi BakaJehova. Amaphephandaba alibiza ngokuthi “ihlelo elimelene nobuKristu nelonakalisa umphakathi.” Abalobi bamaphephandaba bacaphuna ngokungeyikho izihloko ze-Phaphama! futhi baqamba amanga bathi injongo yoFakazi “kwakuwukuvuna izenzo zobushokobezi ezazisanda kwenzeka enyakatho yeSifundazwe, uma kungekhona ukuthi kwakuwukuzibhebhezela.” Ngezansi kwesithombe se-Phaphama! kwakubhalwe ukuthi “Inkulumo-ze yenkolo yonakalisa isimo sengqondo sabantu bendabuko.”

Phakathi naso lesi sikhathi, bonke oFakazi BakaJehova babehlale begadiwe. Lonke iposi elifikayo lalihlolwa, ngakho kwakungaxhumaneki kalula negatsha lasePortugal, futhi kwakunzima kakhulu ukuthola izincwadi ze-Watch Tower. Labo ababezithola izincwadi ngeposi babephenyisiswa amaphoyisa.

Uhulumeni owawubusa leli koloni wawusola noma ikuphi ukuhlangana kwabantu abangaphezu kwababili uma bengebona abandawonye. Abazalwane bathatha izinyathelo zokuphepha bashintsha izindawo zomhlangano futhi bahlangana ngamaqembu amancane. Kodwa ngo-1961 bangu-130 ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaKristu. Ngemva kwaso, uMfoweth’ uMancoca noFilemon bahambela labo ababekade bekhona ukuze baqiniseke ukuthi bafike bephephile emakhaya. Ukukhathalela kothando abakubonisa kwabaqinisa abafowabo abangamaKristu.

Isikhathi Sokuvivinywa Okunzima

Okwenzeka kuSilvestre Simão kunikeza umbono walokho okwakudingeka babhekane nakho abafundi beBhayibheli ababesanda kuqala ngaleso sikhathi. Ngo-1959, esafunda esikoleni, umfundi ayefunda naye wamnikeza ipheshana elithi “Hell-Fire—Bible Truth or Pagan Scare? [Isihogo Somlilo—Iqiniso LeBhayibheli Noma Into Amaqaba Athusa Ngayo?]” Kamuva wathi: “Ukuphila kwami kwashintsha ngemva kokufunda leli pheshana. Ngathi ngingezwa iqiniso ngesihogo, engangifundiswe ukuba ngisesabe, ngayeka ukuya esontweni futhi ngaqala ukufunda izincwadi zeNhlangano.”

Kulezo zikhathi ezinzima, oFakazi babengavele nje bamemele emihlanganweni noma ubani othi unesithakalo. Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka emibili baba nomuzwa wokuthi kwase kuphephile ukumema uSilvestre. Ngemva komhlangano wokuqala aya kuwo, wabuza imibuzo ngeSabatha. Lokho akuzwa kwamenza waqiniseka ukuthi wayeselitholile iqiniso. Kodwa wayelazisa kangakanani? Ngesonto elilandelayo, ngo-June 25, 1961, lapho esemhlanganweni okwesibili, ukwazisa kwakhe lokho ayesekufundile kwavivinywa. Amaphoyisa ezempi awumisa umhlangano. Wonke amadoda kwathiwa awaphumele ngaphandle, abhaxabulwa ngamapayipi ensimbi. Omunye umzalwane uyakhumbula: “Sashayiswa okomuntu ebulala isilwane esingenangqondo—yebo, ngendlela abantu abashaya ngayo ingulube ngesagila ukuze ife ngaphambi kokuba bayidayise emakethe.” USilvestre Simão nayenabo basenezibazi zalokho kushaywa. Babe sebemashiswa bayiswa enkundleni yebhola lezinyawo lapho bathola khona isixuku sabaMhlophe ababegane unwabu ababesanda kulahlekelwa imikhaya yabo empini eyayisenyakatho ye-Angola. Amasosha nesixuku, kanye nabaMhlophe abathile, baphinde babashaya ngesihluku laba bazalwane.

USilvestre nabanye abazalwane babe sebelayishwa emalolini bayiswa ejele laseSão Paulo, elaliphethwe amaphoyisa omshoshaphansi ayenedumela elibi. Abazalwane baphinde bashaywa ngonya base bephonswa esitokisini, balakaniswa. Bashiywa lapho ukuze bafe, belimele kabi futhi bopha kakhulu.

Iziphathimandla zazicabanga ukuthi uJoão Mancoca ungumholi waleli qembu ngoba wayengumqhubi weSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Ngemva kwalokho kushaywa kabuhlungu, wathathwa eyobulawa, wamangalelwa ngokuthi uhlela ukuhlasela abelungu, okuyindlela iziphathimandla ezaziqonda ngayo ngokuyiphutha isigaba esithile se-Nqabayokulinda. UMfoweth’ uMancoca wazibuza ukuthi zingathini uma zingathola wona lo magazini uphethwe abaMhlophe noma uma zingawuthola emkhayeni waseBrazil noma ePortugal? Wathi lo magazini ufundwa emhlabeni wonke futhi ufundwa abantu bezizwe zonke. Ukuze zikufakazele lokho, iziphathimandla zamyisa emkhayeni wamaPutukezi woFakazi BakaJehova. Lapho ziwubona lo magazini futhi zizwa ukuthi lo mkhaya wawufunde ukwaziswa okufanayo, azibange zisafuna ukumbulala. UMfoweth’ uMancoca waphindiselwa kwabanye abazalwane ejele laseSão Paulo.

Akubona bonke abaneliseka kodwa. Lapho befika ejele laseSão Paulo, umphathi wejele, umlisa ongumPutukezi owayezacile, wathi “uzomnakekela” uMfoweth’ uMancoca. Loku ‘kunakekelwa’ kwakuhlanganisa ukuhlaliswa elangeni elishisayo intambama yonke enganikezwa kudla. Ngehora lesihlanu, lo mphathi wayethatha imvubu aqale ukushaya uMfoweth’ uMancoca, okhumbula ukuthi: “Angikaze ngimbone umuntu osebenzisa imvubu njengalowaya. Wathi wayengeke angiyeke ngize ngiwe ngife.” Waqhubeka emshaya ngesihluku ihora lonke, kodwa uMfoweth’ uMancoca wagcina engasabuzwa ubuhlungu. Wabe esezizwa efikelwa ubuthongo khona esashaywa kanjalo. Lo mphathi owayesekhathele wayeqiniseka ukuthi uMancoca uyafa, ngakho isosha lamhudula lamfaka ngaphansi kwebhokisi. Lapho abezempi befika ebusuku bezobheka ukuthi ufe ngempela yini, isosha lababonisa ibhokisi elalimbozile futhi labatshela ukuthi wayesefile kakade. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi walulama, futhi ngemva kwezinyanga ezintathu lona leli sosha lethuka lapho limbona endlini yokudlela ephila. Labe selixoxela uMfoweth’ uMancoca konke okwenzeka ngalobo busuku. Ukuhlaselwa ubuthongo kungazelelwe kwamsindisa lo mzalwane ekufeni.

UMfoweth’ uMancoca wakwazi ukuphinde ahlangane nabanye abazalwane, futhi baqhuba imihlangano ejele. Phakathi nezinyanga ezinhlanu beboshiwe ejele laseSão Paulo, izikhathi ezintathu kwabekwa izinkulumo zeningi kunabantu abangaba ngu-300. Ubufakazi obanikezwa ejele baqinisa amabandla angaphandle ngoba iziboshwa eziningi ezazinesithakazelo zathuthukela ekubhapathizweni lapho sezidedelwe.

Phakathi nezinyanga azichitha kuleli jele, uSilvestre Simão wakwazi ukuhlangana neqembu elalilapho ukuze atadishe iBhayibheli ngendlela ehlelekile, ngaleyo ndlela athole amandla angokomoya ayewadinga. Ngemva kwalokho amalungu aleli qembu ayiswa kwamanye amajele namakamu okusetshenzwa kanzima kuwo lapho ashaywa khona kakhulu futhi afukuziswa. Ngemva kweminyaka emine eboshwe ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene, uSilvestre wadedelwa ngo-November 1965. Wabuyela eLuanda, lapho ahlangana khona neqembu loFakazi elalihlanganyela endaweni yaseRangel. Njengoba ukholo lwakhe lwase luvivinyiwe kakade, ekugcineni wabhapathizwa ngo-1967. Abanye ababesejele, kuhlanganise noMfoweth’ uMancoca, baze badedelwa ngo-1970, kodwa babuye baboshwa futhi.

“Ngeke Besayifunda Impi”

Leli zwe lalikhungethwe impi. Kodwa iBhayibheli lithi lapho abantu befunda izindlela zikaJehova, ‘bakhanda izinkemba zabo zibe ngamageja nemikhonto yabo ibe yizikele zokuthena imithi’ futhi ababe ‘besayifunda impi.’ (Isaya 2:3, 4) Zazizokwenzenjani izinsizwa zase-Angola?

Ngo-March 1969 uhulumeni waqala umkhankaso onesihluku wokulwa nabo bonke ababenqaba ukulahla ukungathathi-hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu. Phakathi kwabokuqala ababoshwa kwakuno-António Gouveia noJoão Pereira eLuanda. UMfoweth’ uGouveia walandwa emsebenzini wavalelwa esitokisini esingcolile. Unina waze wavunyelwa ukuba ambone ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-45 eboshiwe.

UFernando Gouveia, u-António Alberto no-António Matías babephakathi kwalabo ababoshwa eHuambo. Babeshaywa ngonya kathathu ngosuku. Ngisho nonina kaFernando akakwazanga ukumbona ngemva kokushaywa. Ekugcineni, ngemva kokuba abazalwane bebhalele umkhuzi webutho lezempi bedalula ukuxhashazwa okwakwenziwa, lesi sihluku saphela.

U-António Gouveia ukhumbula izinto ezithile ezabasiza ukuba bakhuthazele. Ngezikhathi ezithile unina wayefihla ikhasi le-Nqabayokulinda ekudleni ayebalethela kona. “Kwasisiza kwagcina izingqondo zethu ziqaphile. Kwasiza nengokomoya lethu lahlala liqinile.” Ubuye athi: “Sasiye sishumayeze izindonga nganoma isiphi isihloko seBhayibheli esasisikhumbula.” Ukuze bathi ukuzijabulisa, abanye abazalwane babenza izinto ezihlekisayo. Babeye bamemeze, benze sengathi basho into ethile ebalulekile, bamemezele ukuthi sebebulale izimpukane eziningi kangakanani ezitokisini zabo.

Phakathi kwalabo ababoshwa e-Angola kwakunezinsizwa eziyisithupha zasePortugal ezazithunyelwe ukuzosebenza kwezempi, kodwa ezazenqabile ngenxa kanembeza. Omunye wazo, uDavid Mota, uyakhumbula: “Sasisizwa isivikelo sikaJehova izikhathi eziningi. Izikhulu zasebenzisa izindlela ezihlukahlukene zizama ukwephula ubuqotho bethu, zigxile kulabo ababengakabhapathizwa phakathi kwethu. Elinye iqhinga ezazilisebenzisa kwakuwukusivusa phakathi kwamabili, zikhethe abahlanu, bese kulaba abahlanu zithatha oyedwa, zibeke isibhamu ekhanda lakhe ezazenza sengathi sinezinhlamvu, bese ziyasiqhumisa. Ngemva kwemizuzu engu-30 kuthiwe asibuyele lapho silala khona, zazikuphinda futhi lokho. Sonke siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi siyaphila. Ekugcineni iziphathimandla zasihlonipha futhi savunyelwa ukuba siqhube imihlangano ejele. Asive sajabula lapho sibona iziboshwa eziyisithupha esasiboshwe nazo zibhapathizwa ejele!”

Yize abazalwane babetshelwe ukuthi babezohlala ejele baze babe neminyaka engu-45 ubudala, akudingekanga balinde isikhathi eside kangako. Noma kunjalo, zazinzima lezo zikhathi. Okwabehlela kwalucwengisisa ukholo lwabo. Iningi lalabo bazalwane likhonza njengabadala emabandleni namuhla.

Ukubusa Kwabaphathi Bamakoloni Kuphela Isigubhukane

Ngo-April 25, 1974, ukubusa kobushiqela kwaketulwa ePortugal. Yase iphelile impi yeminyaka engu-13 eyayilwa nokwenziwa kwe-Angola ikoloni, amasosha amaPutukezi aqala ukuhoxa. Kwamiswa uhulumeni wesikhashana okwakufanele uphathe izintambo izinyanga eziyishumi, waqala ukusebenza ngo-January 31, 1975, kodwa wahlala izinyanga eziyisithupha kuphela.

Ekuqaleni, oFakazi BakaJehova bazuza kulolu shintsho olwenzeka isigubhukane. Bangu-25 oFakazi BakaJehova ababeboshelwe ukungathathi-hlangothi ejele laseCabo Ledo abanikezwa ushwele ngo-May. Phakathi kwabo kwakunabasePortugal abayisithupha ababenqabe ukuhlanganyela empini, kuhlanganise nezimpi ezazimelene nokuthi amazwe abaNsundu abe amakoloni. Laba bazalwane abaMhlophe babezokwenzani ngale nkululeko eyayingalindelekile? UDavid Mota uthi: “Njengoba sasiqiniswe ubuhlobo obuseduze esasinabo noJehova ejele, sonke sanquma ukuhlala e-Angola futhi ngokushesha saqala inkonzo yokuphayona.”

Isimo sokukhululeka ngokwenkolo kwakuyinto entsha koFakazi base-Angola abangu-1 500. Amaphoyisa omshoshaphansi ayengasekho, ukuboshwa kwabantu kwaphela, futhi oFakazi base bengahlangana ngokukhululeka. Baba phansi phezulu eLuanda befuna amahholo, izindawo zokungcebeleka, nezinye izindawo ezazingathatha inani elalanda loFakazi BakaJehova. Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, amabandla angu-18 ayekuleli zwe ayehlanganyela emizini yabanye.

Kwahlelwa ukuba kube nomhlangano wenkonzo okhethekile ePavilhão Ferrovia. Phakathi kwabazalwane abangu-400 ababemenywe emabandleni amaningi, kwakukhona noJosé Augusto, manje oyilungu lomkhaya waseBethel yasePortugal. Uyakhumbula: “Ngangiqala ekuphileni kwami ukubona abazalwane nodade abaningi kangaka bendawonye ngenkululeko! Kwakungathi siyaphupha. Kwakuyintokozo yodwa njengoba sasihlangene sonke ngokukhululeka, sijabulela ubudlelwane namanye amabandla.”

Injabulo Engokomoya Ngesikhathi Seziyaluyalu

Izinhlangano ezintathu zesizwe ezaziyizimbangi zazilwela amandla okubusa: i-MPLA, FNLA ne-UNITA. Amaqembu ahlomile ayizimbangi ahlasela iLuanda futhi amisa ikomkhulu lawo. “Ekuqaleni, abantu babedubulana ngokuzumana,” kulandisa uLuis Sabino, owazibonela ngawakhe. “Kodwa njengoba inzondo yayikhula, kwasetshenziswa izikhali ezinamandla ngokwengeziwe. Kwabonakala izimoto ezinkulu zamasosha emigwaqweni, kuqhunyiswa namabhomu. Kwacekelwa phansi imizi eminingi, kuhlanganise neyabazalwane.”

Kwabonakala kuwukuhlakanipha ukuba imihlangano yamabandla iqhubeke iqhutshelwa ezindaweni okwakuqhutshelwa kuzo izifundo zencwadi. “Kwakuvamile ukuba imihlangano iphazanyiswe ukuqhuma kwezibhamu eduzane,” kukhumbula uManuel Cunha. “Sonke sasilala phansi kuze kuphele lokho kudubula, bese isimiso siyaqhubeka. Ngezinye izikhathi izibani zazicishwa ukuze zingasidonseli amehlo. Lapho imihlangano isiphelile, abazalwane babehamba ngokuqapha.”

Naphezu kwezingozi, abazalwane babezimisele ukwandisa inkonzo yabo. UDelucírio Oliveira uyachaza: “Uhulumeni owawubusa leli koloni wawuwuvimbele umsebenzi wethu, ngakho ukuhamba indlu ngendlu ngenkululeko kwakuyinto entsha kubamemezeli abaningi. Amaphayona ahola futhi akhuthaza nabanye ukuba bahambe nawo. Imihlangano yenkonzo yasensimini yayisekelwa impela.” Kodwa babezibona izimpawu zokugqashuka kwempi. Uyaqhubeka: “Sasivame ukuzwa izibhamu ziqhuma sisensimini. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakudingeka sichezukele igazi elalisanda kuchitheka endleleni esasihamba kuyo. Ngezinye izikhathi sasizithela phezu kwezidumbu emgwaqweni.”

Odade ababili, omunye oyiphayona, babesensimini ngesikhathi kuqhuma amabhomu eduze kwabo. Omunye udade waqojama eduze kodonga futhi wasikisela ukuba bagoduke. Iphayona lamkhuthaza ukuba bathi ukuqhubaqhubeka, lamqinisekisa ngokuthi bazohamba uma amabhomu eqhubeka eqhuma. Kamuva ngalolo suku ekuseni baqala isifundo seBhayibheli nombhangqwana owacela ukuba ufundelwe kathathu ngesonto.

Izimo ezingathembisi azibavimbelanga abazalwane ukuba baqhube umhlangano wabo wokuqala wesifunda ehholo lomphakathi ngo-March 1975. Kwaqashwa inkundla evalekile enkulu kunazo zonke eLuanda, iCidadela Desportiva, okwakuzoqhutshelwa kuyo lo mhlangano. Ngenjongo yokuphepha, kwamenywa labo ababeza njalo emihlanganweni. Noma kunjalo, kwaba khona abangu-2 888.

Ngenxa yokuthi konke kwahamba kahle, emhlanganweni wesibili abazalwane bamema nabantu abathakazelayo nalabo ababeqhutshelwa izifundo zeBhayibheli. U-Aníbal Magalhães uthi: “Okwasihlaba umxhwele lapho singena enkundleni kwakuyisihloko somhlangano esasibhalwe ngamagama amakhulu phezulu endaweni yesikhulumi, ‘Hlobo Luni Lwabantu Okufanele Nibe Yilo.—2 Pet. 3:11.’ Singakaqali isimiso, inkundla yayisigcwele. Sajabula lapho kumenyezelwa ukuthi kwakunabangu-7 713. Abaningi abakwazanga ukubamba izinyembezi zenjabulo. Sasibona izimpawu zomsebenzi omkhulu wokubutha owawungaphambili, futhi sambonga uJehova ngokusisingatha kuze kube yilolo suku.”

Ngemva komthandazo wokuphetha, ngesikhathi abazalwane besahlanza inkundla, zabuye zaqhuma izibhamu, manje seziqhuma yonke indawo. Kwakungesinye isikhumbuzo sokuthi ‘babehlala ematabernakele kanye nabazonda ukuthula.’—IHu. 120:6.

Bahlukaniswe Impi

Leli zwe lalihlukaniswe amaqembu ezombusazwe amathathu ayizimbangi, iLuanda yaba inkundla eyinhloko yempi. Amabutho ezempi ayakhiwa ngokuphoqa amadoda nabesifazane ngisho nezingane ukuba babhalisele ukuya empini. Abafana abaneminyaka engu-12, begqoke iyunifomu, baqala ukubonakala emigwaqweni bephethe izibhamu ezizishintshayo ababedubula ngazo noma kuphi. Izibhamu eziwontuluntulu, amabhomu ajikijelwayo nacitshwayo kwenza abantu bangalala ebusuku. I-Angola yayisingene enkathini yempi engapheli. Ngenxa yalokho, isizukulwane sentsha yase-Angola sazalwa futhi sakhuliselwa endaweni enobudlova, enomsindo wokuqhuma kwezibhamu namabhomu.

Ukuze baqinise abafowabo nodadewabo abangamaKristu, abelusi abangokomoya abathembekile babebavakashela njalo kafushane emizini yabo lapho beya noma bebuya emsebenzini. Babebheka ukuthi konke kusahamba kahle futhi bafunde umbhalo owodwa noma emibili nalowo mkhaya.

Ukuya emihlanganweni nasensimini kwakudinga isibindi nokuncika kuJehova. Kodwa ngokuvamile ukuziveza ukuthi unguFakazi KaJehova kwakuyisivikelo esingcono kakhulu. UFaustino da Rocha Pinto wayelibangise ehhovisi leNhlangano ngesikhathi isosha limkhomba ngesibhamu engazelele futhi lamkhahla: “Uyaphi? Ukuyiphi inhlangano? Letha la leso sikhwama sakho!” Lapho lisivula, labona iBhayibheli kuphela nezincwadi ezithile ze-Watch Tower. Ngokushesha, isimo salo sengqondo saba ngcono. “Oho, ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova! Ngiyaxolisa; ungixolele. Hamba.”

Ngesinye isikhathi isosha lakhahla udade osemusha: “Usekela yiphi inhlangano?” Waphendula: “Akukho nhlangano engiyisekelayo. Ngingomunye woFakazi BakaJehova.” Leli sosha labe selithi kozakwabo: “Mbukeni! Mbukisiseni! Bukani isiketi sakhe! Niyabona ukuthi ugqoke kahle kanjani. Akafani namanye amantombazane. Ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova.” Lo dade wadedelwa ukuba ahambe, waxwayiswa ngomusa ukuba aqaphele.

Ukuxhumana namabandla, ikakhulukazi ayesemaphandleni, kwaya kuba nzima njengoba impi yayishuba. Amabutho ayevele afike edolobheni elincane, aphange imizi, ashise ayengakuthathanga. Lokhu kwenza ukuba abantu abaningi, kuhlanganise noFakazi abaningi, babalekele emahlathini. EBanga, lapho kwakunabangu-300 ababeba khona emihlanganweni kanye nabamemezeli abayikhulu, bonke baphoqeleka ukuba bayishiye imizi yabo babalekele ehlathini izinsuku eziningi. Amabandla aseJamba naseCela nawo abaleka ‘nemiphefumulo yawo [kuphela] njengempango.’ (Jer. 39:18) OFakazi abaningi abaMhlophe ababeseseLubango bahamba baya eWindhoek, eNamibia engumakhelwane.

Izincwadi zazicishe zingafinyeleli kulaba bazalwane ababesemahlathini. Amanye amabandla, njengalawo ayeseMalanje, Lobito, Benguela, Gabela, Huambo naseLubango, kwakuphela izinyanga eziningi engafinyeleleki.

Isikhathi Esidabukisayo

Lathi lingasuka nje ijoka labaphathi bamakoloni, amaPutukezi amaningi aqala ukulishiya leli zwe. Njengoba udlame lwalubhebhetheka, ukubaleka kwaphuthuma. Amaningi akwazi ukuthatha izimpahla zawo ezimbalwa kakhulu. Ukuze libonise indlela elalibazonda ngayo abaMhlophe, elinye iqembu lezombusazwe lathi lalizobulala ngisho namakhaladi ngenxa yokuthi okhokho bawo babeshade nabelungu.

Yebo, abazalwane abangamaPutukezi nabase-Angola babengenayo leyo nzondo. Babenezibopho zothando eziqinile. Ukuhamba kwamaPutukezi kwasho ukuhlukana kwabangane abaningi ababesondelene. Ngo-June 1975 bonke abazalwane abangamaPutukezi ababehola emsebenzini kwadingeka bahambe. Ukwengamela umsebenzi wokushumayela nokwalusa umhlambi kaNkulunkulu kwasala nabazalwane bendawo abathembekile. Abaningi babo kwakungamadoda anemikhaya futhi ayenemisebenzi yokuziphilisa. Yize kwabadabukisa ukuhamba kwabafowabo abangamaPutukezi, babezimisele ukuqhubeka ngosizo lukaJehova.

Yiziphi izimo ababhekana nazo? Ngokushesha igatsha lasePortugal lathola lo mbiko odumazayo ehhovisi laseLuanda: “Idolobha liqhunyiswa ngeziqhumane manje. Imigwaqo ivaliwe. Akuxhumaneki namanye amadolobha amakhulu. Itheku laseLuanda livaliwe. Izitolo ziphelelwa ukudla. Sebeqalile abantu ukweba nokuphanga. Kunomthetho wewashi oqala ngo-9:00 ebusuku. Noma ubani otholakala emgwaqweni ngemva kwalesi sikhathi angadutshulwa.”

Ukuqhubekela Phambili Kwezinceku ZikaJehova

Le nkathi yeziyaluyalu zezombusazwe yayiyisikhathi sokwanda ngokomoya okwakungakaze kwenzeke ngaphambili. Inani labamemezeli lafinyelela ku-3 055, ukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-68 kunangonyaka owawandulele. Baba ngu-11 490 ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni!

Ngo-September 5, 1975, kwafika izindaba okwase kukade zilindelwe. Ungqongqoshe wezobulungisa kahulumeni wesikhashana wayememezele ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova “bayinhlangano engokwenkolo” eqashelwa ngokomthetho. UJoão Mancoca uyakhumbula: “Kwakungekona ukujabula kwabazalwane lokhuya. Babengakaze babe nenkululeko ephelele yokukhulekela obala. Kwaba sengathi amasango ejele avulwe gengelezi. Ngokokuqala ngqá, imihlangano yebandla neyezifunda yayisingaqhutshwa ngaphandle kokufihlela umphakathi. Imihlangano yesifunda eyayihlelelwe intwasahlobo ka-1976 yafaka umfutho omkhulu emsebenzini futhi yaqinisa ukuzimisela okwakuzodingeka eminyakeni eyayizolandela.”

Kwahlelwa ukuba kube nemihlangano yesifunda emihlanu, kodwa kwathathwa izinyathelo ezibonisa ukuqapha kwanqunywa ukuba kube nemibuthano yamabandla amathathu noma amane kuphela ngesikhathi. Kwabelwa nabazalwane abathathu ukuba bahambele amabandla ngezimpelasonto njengababonisi besifunda.

Eminyakeni engaphambili, izimo zase-Angola zazingavumi ukuba ababonisi baye ezikoleni ezikhethekile ezihlelwa iNhlangano. Ngakho kwahlelwa ukuba kuqhutshwe iSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso sabadala kusukela ngo-May 19-24, 1976. Abazalwane ababili base-Angola baya kulesi sikole ePortugal futhi baqeqeshwa. Lapho bebuya, basiqhuba eLuanda kukhona noMário P. Oliveira wasegatsheni lasePortugal ukuze asize.

Abadala abangu-23 bayazisa kakhulu le mfundo esekelwe eBhayibhelini yokubasiza ‘beluse umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.’ (1 Pet. 5:2) UCarlos Cadi, owayekhonza njengombonisi wesifunda ngaleso sikhathi, ukhumbula umphumela lesi sikole esaba nawo: “Abadala bakwazi ukubona inhlangano kaJehova ngelinye iso. Lesi sikole sabenza babona ukuthi inhlangano kaJehova iyafundisa. Bafunda indlela yokusiza abazalwane emabandleni ukuba basebenzise izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuxazululeni izinkinga. Lesi sikole sasiza nabadala ukuba babone ukuthi bangawuhlela kangcono kanjani umsebenzi webandla, besebenzisa ngokugcwele amakhono ezinceku ezikhonzayo ezikhonza nabo.”

Ukuqashelwa ngokomthetho kwakusho nokuthi amaBhayibheli nezincwadi ezisekelwe kuwo zase zingalandwa kwamanye amazwe. Phakathi nezinyanga ezinhlanu, amanye amabandla athola omagazini bawo bokuqala. Yeka isibusiso esikhulu okwaba yiso ukuthi ekugcineni kube ne-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! ephelele enamakhasi angu-32. Abazalwane babengene ngokushesha ‘emnyango omkhulu oholela emsebenzini’ ababevulelwe wona. (1 Kor. 16:9) Nokho, izimo ezingaqinisekile kuleli zwe zaholela kwezinye izinkinga ezinkulu.

Nakuba ukukhululeka ekubusweni iPortugal kwenzeka njengoba kwakuhleliwe ngo-November 11, 1975, ukulwa phakathi kwamaqembu amakhulu ezombusazwe kwasheshe kwaphenduka impi yombango. Kwamiswa ama-republic azimele, iLuanda iyinhloko-dolobha ye-MPLA eyayilandela izimfundiso zikaMarx. IHuambo yaba inhloko-dolobha yeqembu le-UNITA lihlangene nele-FNLA.

Inkulumo-ze yezombusazwe eyayishiwo elinye iqembu ngelinye yazala inzondo yobuhlanga engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili. Enhloko-dolobha, ukubulawa kwabantu ngesihluku—ngisho nokubashisa emgwaqweni—kwaba yinto evamile. Ngokuvamile iphutha lezisulu kwakuba ukuthi zikhuluma ulimi olubenza babonakale ukuthi ababona abaseLuanda. Le nzondo ngabantu bangaphandle yadala ubutha obaholela ekufudukeni okukhulu kwabantu njengoba abantu ababesuka enyakatho naseningizimu yezwe babebaleka bephindela lapho bazalelwa khona. Kodwa abanye abazalwane baba nesibindi baqhubeka behleli ezifundazweni abangazalelwanga kuzo ukuze banakekele izidingo zabafowabo abangokomoya.

“Viva Jehova!”

OFakazi BakaJehova baphinde babhekana nokushushiswa okunonya. OFakazi baseLuanda babizelwa phambi kwamakomiti omphakathi ayezama ukubaphoqa ukuba bathenge amakhadi amaqembu ezombusazwe. Njengoba isimo sase sishube kanjena, i-Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the MPLA yamangalela oFakazi ngokuthi benza abantu badelele uMbuso, bangalihloniphi ifulege lesizwe, futhi benqabe ukuya empini. Izincazelo ezanikezwa oFakazi BakaJehova azinakwanga.

Ngo-March 1976, kwathunyelwa izincwadi zeBhayibheli e-Angola zisuka ePortugal. KwakunamaBhayibheli angu-3 000, amakhophi angu-17 000 encwadi ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade, amakhophi angu-3 000 encwadi ethi Ukusuka EPharadesi Elilahlekile Ukuya EPharadesi Elizuziwe, kanye nomagazini. Iziphathimandla zazithatha zonke lezi zincwadi zazishisa.

Ngo-May 27, 1976, iziteshi zomsakazo zikahulumeni zatshela wonke amakomiti omphakathi nezinhlangano zoMbuso ukuthi kumelwe ziyiqaphelisise imisebenzi yoFakazi BakaJehova. Zonke izinsuku esiteshini somsakazo iSonto LamaKatolika lalikhipha izimemezelo ezithi oFakazi BakaJehova bavukela umbuso.

OFakazi babexoshwa emigqeni yokwamukela ukudla. Izixuku zazibuthana ngaphandle kwezindawo okwakuqhutshelwa kuzo imihlangano yebandla. Izingane zazihlushwa ezikoleni. Izingane zikaJosé dos Santos Cardoso nomkakhe, uBrígida, zacindezelwa kanzima ukuba zisho iziqubulo zombusazwe, zicule ingoma yesizwe futhi zimemeze zithi “Phansi ngoJehova.” Zahlukunyezwa ngoba zenqaba. Kungazelelwe, uJosé Jr., owaneminyaka engu-9 ngaleso sikhathi, wathi, “Kulungile, ngizosho mina ngithi ‘Viva [mana njalo]!’” Wonke umuntu wavula izindlebe. Lo mfana omncane wabe esememeza ethi “Viva Jehova!” Njengoba babengamzwanga ukuthi wayetheni, bananela ngobunye bathi “Viva!”

“Esithandweni Somlilo”

Iqembu elibusayo lalizimisele ukuphoqa oFakazi ukuba bangene ebuthweni lempi. Lokhu kwaholela ekushushisweni okunesihluku.

Ngo-February 17, 1977, u-Artur Wanakambi, umzalwane owayeshiseka waseSifundazweni SaseHuíla, wazama ukuchaza isimo sakhe sokungathathi-hlangothi kodwa kwanhlanga zimuka nomoya. Yena nabanye abazalwane abathathu benziwa umbukiso emigwaqweni njengoba babeyiswa ejele. Izibukeli, kuhlanganise nababeshanela umgwaqo, kwathiwa ababashaye. Ngakusasa amakhosikazi alaba bazalwane abathathu ababeshadile aya ejele eyozwa ukuthi abayeni bawo bakuphi. Ngemva kokulinda isikhathi esijana, abhaxabulwa ngemvubu ngendlela engenasihe, ashiywa elimele futhi opha. Ngaleyo ntambama, lab’ odade bazithola sebesejele elilodwa nabayeni babo.

UMfoweth’ uTeles ulandisa ngokwenzeka kwelinye iqembu labazalwane ababoshwa ngemva kwezinsuku eziyishumi: “Thina esasingu-35 safakwa ‘esithandweni somlilo.’ Kwakuyigumbi elalilide ngamamitha ayisikhombisa, libanzi futhi liphakeme ngamamitha amathathu. Ophahleni lukasimende oxutshwe nensimbi kwakunezimbobo zomoya ezimbili ezincane, ngisho isandla somuntu sasingangeni kuzo. Kwakuyinkathi eshisa kakhulu, futhi lesi sitokisi saba isithando somlilo ngempela. Ngenxa yokuthi babezimisele ukusibulala, bazivala lezi zimbobo ezimbili.

“Ngosuku lwesine, sanxusa uJehova ukuba asinikeze amandla okubekezelela loku kushisa okungaka. Sakhumbula izinsizwa ezithembekile ezintathu zosuku lukaDaniyeli ezaphonswa esithandweni somlilo. Ngakusasa, cishe ngehora lesithathu ekuseni, isicabha sabhaklazeka sabe sesivuleka. Asive sajabula ngokuthola umoya oqabulayo! Kwakungumphathi wejele. Njengoba ayezela, wayevule umnyango wabe esewa. Ngemva kwemizuzu cishe eyishumi, wasukuma wabe esesivala isicabha wangasho lutho. Sambonga uJehova ngemizuzu embalwa eyigugu yomoya oqabulayo.

“Ngemva kwezinsuku eziningana, kwafakwa abanye abazalwane abangu-7 lapho sasikhona. Yayingasekho indawo yokuhlala. Sashaywa izikhathi eziningi. Kwashisa nakakhulu futhi izilonda zomkhuhlane nezokushaywa zazinuka kabi.

“Ngo-March 23 sagubha iSikhumbuzo, yize kwakuyinkulumo kuphela zingekho izifanekiselo. Ngaleso sikhathi sasingu-45 sisonke. Abanye kithina bachitha izinsuku ezingu-52 ‘esithandweni somlilo’ kodwa baphila.”

Ngemva kokukhishwa ‘esithandweni somlilo,’ bathunyelwa ekamu lokusebenza laseSakassange, esempumalanga yesifundazwe saseMoxico futhi eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-1 300.

Ukushushiswa “Kuba Semthethweni”

Ngo-March 8, 1978, i-Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the MPLA yamemezela ukuthi “isonto ‘loFakazi BakaJehova’” alikho emthethweni futhi yalivimbela. Ukuze kuqikelelwe ukuthi lesi simemezelo sifinyelela kude naseduze, senziwa zonke izinsuku kathathu ngosuku esiteshini somsakazo saseLuanda. Esokuqala sasingesiPutukezi, kodwa ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi wonke umuntu uyayizwa le ndaba, sakhishwa isonto lonke ngesiChokwe, isiKikongo, isiKimbundu nesi-Umbundu. Ekugcineni, lo mthetho washicilelwa ephephandabeni lale nhlangano, i-Jornal de Angola, ngo-March 14, 1978. Eqinisweni, loku kuvinjelwa kwamane kwakwenza “kwaba semthethweni” ukuhlukunyezwa kwabazalwane okwase kwenziwa kakade.

I-Organization for the Defense of the People (ODP [INhlangano Elwela Abantu]) yayiqhubeka nokungabalweli. OFakazi BakaJehova abaningi babeqoqwa bavalelwe ejele ngaphandle kokuthethwa kwamacala. Izimboni zakulo lonke elaseLuanda zazihanjelwa kungalindelwe. Embonini yamapotimende eMalas Onil, kwaboshwa oFakazi abangu-14. Edolobheni laseLubango, kwaboshwa abanye abangu-13. Ngemva kwezinsukwana ezimbalwa, imibiko yaqinisekisa ukuthi kwakuboshwe abangu-50 eNdalatando. Lingakapheli nje isonto umsebenzi uvinjelwe, kwase kuboshwe abazalwane nodade okungenani abangu-150.

Kwalandela ukuxoshwa koFakazi emisebenzini bengenzanga lutho. Akubange kusacatshangelwa iminyaka eminingi yokuziphatha kwabo okuhle, amakhono abo noma indlela ababesebenza ngayo. Empeleni, abanye abaxoshwa babesezikhundleni eziphezulu ezithuthukisa umnotho wezwe.

Abesifazane nabo babengayekwa neze. Isikhulu esithile sezempi sabona u-Emília Pereira ephambi komuzi wakhe, sambuza ukuthi kungani ayengelona ilungu lebutho lezempi. Lapho ephendula ngokuthi wayengahambisani nento ehilela ukubulala noma ukuchitha igazi, sabona ukuthi unguFakazi. Wathi angavuma naye ukuthi unguye, kwathiwa akagibele elolini elalimile. Odadewabo ababili baphuma bezobheka ukuthi kwenzekani, nabo bafakwa elolini. Kusenjalo, kwafika uyise. Lesi sikhulu sathi akangene elolini naye. Lapho nje sebezohamba, umzalwane ongumakhelwane wabuza ukuthi kwakwenzekani. Naye bamgxavuna bamfaka elolini ngenkani.

Bayiswa ejele, lapho odade bafakwa khona etilongweni labesifazane. Njalo ebusuku amaphoyisa ayezama ukuxhaphaza lab’ odade abancane ngokobulili, kodwa babebambana, bakhale futhi bathandaze ngamazwi aphakeme. Indlela abenza ngayo yabhuntshisa izinhloso ezimbi zala madoda, futhi abazange badlwengulwe.

Abazalwane esifundazweni saseMalanje nabo bavivinywa kabuhlungu. Ukuhlukunyezwa kukaJosé António Bartolomeu owayeneminyaka engu-74 kwaphumela ekufeni kwakhe. UDomingas António wayentekenteke ngemva kokuboshwa nokushaywa kaningi kangangokuba wafa lapho ehlaselwa umalaleveva. UManuel Ribeiro wadliswa ushevu futhi wafa ngoba wayebhalele umkhaya wakhe incwadi esejele.

Ngesonto elalandela ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi, kwaba nomhlangano nabadala bakuwo wonke amabandla aseLuanda. Banikezwa isikhuthazo nesiqondiso esingokomBhalo ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wesikhathi esizayo, futhi sadluliselwa nasemabandleni. Ukuzimisela kwabo kwaqina lapho becabangela isihloko sonyaka sika-1978: “Ngeke bakunqobe, ngoba ‘mina [Jehova] nginawe . . . ukuba ngikukhulule.’”—Jer. 1:19.

Izicelo Eziya Kuziphathimandla Zikahulumeni

Ngo-March 21, 1978, abazalwane abathathu ababekhonza njengabaqondisi be-Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses yase-Angola bathumela incwadi kuyi-Political Bureau of the MPLA benxusa ukuba kube yizinkantolo ezinqumayo ukuthi imithetho iphuliwe yini noma cha, nokuthi kunqamuke ukuboshwa koFakazi okungemthetho. Amakhophi ale ncwadi athunyelwa kumongameli wezwe nakundunankulu, kanye nakungqongqoshe wezokuvikela, wobulungisa, nowemfundo namasiko. Abaphendulanga.

Belandela isibonelo somphostoli uPawulu, isicelo sadluliselwa kuziphathimandla eziphakeme zezwe. (IzE. 25:11) Le ncwadi, eyayithunyelwe igatsha lasePortugal, yayicela ngenhlonipho ukuba umongameli we-People’s Republic of Angola abukeze umlando woFakazi BakaJehova futhi alalele uhlangothi lwabo lwendaba. Kwacelwa nokuba izinkantolo ziphenye amaqiniso ngoFakazi ngamunye owayeboshwa. Igatsha lasePortugal lathola impendulo ethi le ndaba yayizofakelwa izibuko.

Kwamthinta Ngokujulile Ukuzimisela Kwabanye

Impi yombango yayisabambene e-Angola, ngakho zazimbalwa izivakashi ezazivela ngaphandle. Kodwa ngo-1979 ikomiti yezwe yase-Angola yatshelwa ukuthi ngo-August kwakuzofika umbonisi wasegatsheni laseNigeria, u-Albert Olih. Abeve bajabula abazalwane!

UMfoweth’ u-Olih wathi: “Kwakungathi ngisekamu lezempi isonto lonke. Kwakunamasosha ahlomile yonke indawo.” Wayengalali ebusuku eqwashiswa ukudubulana emgwaqweni.

OFakazi base-Angola babebone izinguquko ezisheshayo eminyakeni eyandulele. Kusukela ngo-1973, ngesikhathi izwe lisabuswa abaphathi bamakoloni, kuze kube ngu-1976, abamemezeli babande ngamaphesenti angu-266. Kwathi lapho ukushushiswa kudlanga ngo-1977, okwalandelwa ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi ngo-1978, ukwanda kwase kumile. OFakazi abaningi ezweni babesanda kubhapathizwa—kwakubhapathizwe abayinkulungwane ngo-1975 kuphela. Nakuba kwakunamabandla angu-31, amaningi kulawa ayengenabo abadala. Njengoba kwakungekho kunakekela kothando kwabelusi abangokomoya, zazingaxazululwa ezinye izinkinga ezinkulu namacala okuziphatha okungcolile. Ezindaweni ezinjengeMalanje, Waku Kungo naseNdalatando, wonke amabandla ayesemakamu angamajele.

Lapho uMfoweth’ u-Olih efika, wanikezwa uhide lwezinto okwakudingeka zidingidwe. Kwagxilwa ezindleleni oFakazi bendawo ababengayiqhuba ngazo inkonzo abayinikwe uNkulunkulu ngaphansi kwezimo ezazikhona. Banikezwa isiqondiso sokwenza kube nezincwadi naphezu kokuba yindlala kwephepha. Kwaxoxwa nangesidingo sezincwadi ezengeziwe zezilimi zendawo, kodwa yebo, kwakuzothatha isikhathi ukuthola nokuqeqesha abahumushi abafanelekayo.

Kwadingidwa nezinkinga zamabandla. UMfoweth’ u-Olih wagcizelela ukuthi wonk’ umuntu, kuhlanganise nabadala, kumelwe aphile ngezindinganiso zeBhayibheli. Akukho muntu okwakufanele abe nomuzwa wokuthi akasifanele iseluleko. Kwabuzwa imibuzo ephathelene nezinto ezenza umuntu afanelekele ubhapathizo, ukubhalisa imishado nokuhanjelwa kwamabandla ababonisi besifunda. Abazalwane base-Angola bakujabulela ukuhlela kweNhlangano ukuba bathole isiqondiso esingokomBhalo ngomzalwane ongumakad’ ebona njengalona.

Phakathi nokuhambela kukaMfoweth’ u-Olih, kwaba nomhlangano wabadala baseLuanda nabanye bakwezinye izindawo ababengase bakwazi ukuza. Baqala ukufika ngo-10:00 ekuseni, umuntu ezifikela ngayedwa ukuze bangadonsi amehlo abantu. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuqala komhlangano ngo-7:00 kusihlwa, indawo yomhlangano yayisishintshwe kabili ngoba le ndawo yayibonakala igadiwe. Lapho uMfoweth’ u-Olih efika kule ndawo yesithathu, wathola abadala abangu-47 behlezi egcekeni bemlindile. Lapho benikezwa imikhonzo yomkhaya waseBethel yaseNigeria, banyakazisa izandla bebonisa ukujabula. Inkulumo yakhe eyathatha ihora yayiyingxoxo yeBhayibheli ngelungiselelo labadala, igcizelela isidingo sabadala abengeziwe ebandleni lobuKristu futhi ichaza nemisebenzi ehilelekile. Ngemva kwale nkulumo, abazalwane babuza imibuzo amahora amabili kwaze kwaba yilapho sekufanele bahambe ukuze bafike emakhaya bephephile singakashayi isikhathi somthetho wewashi.

UMfoweth’ u-Olih wazizwa kanjani ngesonto ayelichithe nabazalwane base-Angola? “Ngazuza kakhulu impela. Kwangikhuthaza ngokujulile ukuzimisela okuqinile kwabazalwane nodade ukukhonza uJehova naphezu kobunzima ababebhekene nabo. Ngashiya i-Angola ngithandaza enhliziyweni yami futhi nginezinyembezi emehlweni ngenxa yalaba bazalwane, okwakuthi nakuba behlupheka, bebe bemoyizela ngenxa yethemba elihle abanalo.”

Ukuvakasha Kokulandelela

Ngemva konyaka uMfoweth’ u-Olih ehambele leli zwe, iNdikimba Ebusayo yathumela u-Albert Olugbebi, naye owayevela egatsheni laseNigeria, ukuba ayokhonza abazalwane base-Angola. Watusa ukuba amaphayona avamile angu-50 aqhutshelwe iSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona. Wabuye wabakhuthaza nangokuba bazame ukuqhuba imihlangano yesifunda njalo ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha, kodwa kungabi nabantu abaningi.

Ngesikhathi kuvakashé uMfoweth’ u-Olugbebi, kwaqhutshwa imihlangano emithathu nabadala kanye nabazalwane ababenemithwalo yemfanelo emabandleni ayengenabo abadala. Kwaba khona abangu-102. Banikezwa iseluleko esingokomBhalo ngesidingo sokuba abadala basekele izimiso zeBhayibheli futhi babe izibonelo zomhlambi, bangazenzi izingqongqo phezu kwawo. (1 Pet. 5:3) Kwaphendulwa imibuzo ephathelene nenqubo okumelwe ilandelwe lapho kusikiselwa ukuba abathile batuswe ukuba babe abadala emabandleni ayengakabi nabadala.

Phakathi kwababekhona kulo mhlangano kwakunoSilvestre Simão, olukholo lwakhe lwase luvivinyiwe kakade phakathi neminyaka cishe emine ayeseyichithe ejele nasemakamu okusetshenzwa kanzima kuwo. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi ekhonza njengomdala, wayesephathiswe imithwalo yemfanelo ethé xaxa njengombonisi wesifunda ngesikhathi abazalwane abaMhlophe bexoshwa e-Angola maphakathi nawo-1970. Manje, njengoba kwase kuhlelwa ukuba kube nemihlangano yesifunda njalo ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha, kwase kunesidingo sombonisi wesigodi. Yize uMfoweth’ uSimão ayenezingane eziyisithupha nemisebenzi yokuziphilisa eyayidingeka ukuze anakekele umkhaya wakhe, wasamukela lesi sabelo esisha. Uye wasifeza ngendlela eyisibonelo kule minyaka engu-20 edlule. Uyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha futhi.

Lapho eqeda uhambo lwakhe, uMfoweth’ u-Olugbebi wabika intuthuko eqinisa idolo: Yize kwakusadingeka ukuba oFakazi bahlangane futhi bashumayele ngokuqapha, ukushushiswa ngesihluku kwalabo ababeseminyakeni yokubuthwa kwakubonakala kuncipha. Eqinisweni, nakuba ngaleso sikhathi kwakunabazalwane abangu-150 kuya ku-200 ejele noma emakamu okusetshenzwa kanzima kuwo, lelo nani lancipha laba ngu-30 ngo-March 1982.

Ukusakaza Ukudla Okungokomoya—Inselele

Ngesikhathi umsebenzi uvinjelwe, into eyayisemqoka kakhulu kwakuwukwenza ukuba ukudla okungokomoya kutholakale njalo. Ngokuvamile lokhu kwakuhilela izingozi ezinkulu.

Okokuqala nje, kwakunzima kakhulu ukuthola iphepha okwakunyatheliselwa kulo INqabayokulinda. Kwakudingeka imvume kahulumeni ukuze lithengwe. Nakuba kwakunabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-3 000, okwesikhathi esithile ayengu-800 kuya kwangu-1 000 kuphela amakhophi ezihloko ezifundwayo ayengase enziwe ngenxa kokuba yindlala kwamaphepha. Noma kunjalo, abazalwane bakwazi ngisho nokunyathelisa amakhophi ezincwadi ezincane ezinoqwembe oluthambile, njengethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade, besebenzisa imishini emincane.

UFernando Figueiredo noFrancisco João Manuel basamukela isabelo sokunyathelisa izincwadi, bezifaka engozini enkulu. Laba bazalwane ababenomdlandla bathola izindawo ezintsha ababenganyathelisela kuzo izincwadi ezengeziwe. Ngezinye izikhathi kwakudingeka izindawo zishintshwe ukuze balondeke. Kwezinye izindawo, umshini wokunyathelisa wawusegunjini elingangeni msindo, elingenamafasitela nazimbobo zomoya, okwakwenza kube nzima kakhulu ukusebenza. Egunjini elincikene naleli, kwakuba nezinye izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezazihlanganisa amakhasi omagazini ngononina. Kwakudingeka baqede ukuhlukanisa, ukuhlanganisa nokupakisha izincwadi ukuze zihanjiswe ngalobo busuku. Kwakudingeka kususwe noma ibuphi ubufakazi balo msebenzi, ukuze kungabi khona lutho oludonsa amehlo abantu. Njengoba umkhiqizo wawanda, imishini emibili yokunyathelisa yayisebenza kanye kanye “ekhishini,” indawo okwakulungiselelwa kuyo izincwadi eziqukethe ukudla okungokomoya. Iqembu labazalwane lalisebenza nsuku zonke, libhala ngomshini, lihlola okubhaliwe, lenza amakhophi, libeka amaphepha ngononina, liwahlanganisa ngama-staple, bese lidiliva omagazini emabandleni.

Ukudilivwa kwezincwadi emabandleni aqhelelene angaphandle kwaseLuanda kwakudingeka kwenziwe yizithunywa. Kwakuyisabelo esiyingozi lesi. Omunye owasebenza njengesithunywa uyalandisa: “Ngemva kwezinyangana umsebenzi uvinjelwe ngokomthetho, ngaya esifundazweni saseBenguela ngiyokwenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa. Ihhovisi leNhlangano lalapha lalinginikeze izinto ezithile okwakudingeka ziyiswe emabandleni aseLobito naseBenguela. Ngangingazi bazalwane kula madolobha. Nganginenombolo yocingo engangizothinta ngayo omunye wabadala baseBenguela. Ukuze kungabi nangozi, sasizobizana ngegama elithi uMkhaya ka-Isaya.

“Lapho ngifika eBenguela, konke kwabonakala kuhamba kahle impela. Ngenxa yomsebenzi wami, esikhumulweni sezindiza angizange ngiseshwe, nakuba kwakuyinto evame ukwenziwa. Ngafika nephasela lingavuliwe. Ngathi ngingafika edolobheni, ngashayela abazalwane ucingo ngokushesha ukuze bazolanda leli phasela. Umzalwane engakhuluma naye wathi wayengazizwa kahle, kodwa wathembisa ukuthi uzothumela othile ehhotela azolilanda. Ngasizathu simbe, kulezi zinsuku ezine engangizihleli ehhotela, akufikanga muntu ezothatha iphasela, yize ngangimshayela zonke izinsuku ucingo lo mfowethu.

“Mhlazane ngizohamba, kwadingeka ngiphindele nalo eLuanda leli phasela. Lapho ngifika esikhumulweni sezindiza, umholi wethimba lethu wathi wonke amalungu ethimba lakhe kwakumelwe aseshwe kanye nezimpahla zawo, abekele abanye abagibeli isibonelo. Kubili kuphela engangingakwenza: (1) ukulahla leli phasela emgqonyeni wezibi, noma (2) ukuliphatha bese ngiyaboshwa.

“Ngemva kokuthandaza kuJehova, ngakhumbula izAga 29:25: ‘Ukwesaba abantu kubeka ugibe, kepha owethemba uJehova uyalondeka.’ Nganquma ukubhekana nesimo ngoba kwakuzoba ukuganga ukulahla ukudla okungokomoya okuningi kangaka.

“Ngama ekugcineni komugqa ukuze kungasuki isidumo esikhulu lapho amaphoyisa ebamba izincwadi nomagazini. Kwathi sekusele abantu ababili ukuba baseshwe, ngezwa othile ethi, ‘Uxolo, kunomuntu lapha ofuna ukubonana nelungu lethimba laseLuanda ngokuqondene nephasela elithile.’ Lapho ngizwa lokhu, ngacabanga, ‘uJehova uwuzwile umthandazo wami. Manje ngibona kugcwaliseka u-Isaya 59:1: ‘Isandla sikaJehova asifinyeziwe ukuba singasindisi,’ ngabe sengiphuthuma ngaphandle. Uma ngifika kulo mzalwane, ngamane nje ngathi uMkhaya ka-Isaya. Waphendula, wabe eselithatha iphasela. Kwadingeka ngiphuthume ngiphindele emuva ngoba indiza yayisizosuka, ngakho angizange ngibe nesikhathi sokuxoxa nomzalwane. Yebo, uJehova ‘uyinsindiso yethu esikhathini sokucindezeleka.’”—Isaya 33:2.

Ukunakekela Umhlambi Naphezu Kwezingozi

Impi—umgibeli wehhashi le-Apocalypse elinombala onjengomlilo—yaqhubeka ihlukumeza ukuphila kwabantu base-Angola. (IsAm. 6:4) Amadolobha nezimboni kwaqhunyiswa ngamabhomu, imigwaqo yafakwa amabhomu agqitshwayo, amabhuloho aqhunyiswa ngodalimede, imithombo yamanzi yoniwa namadolobha amancane ahlaselwa. Ukubulawa kwabantu ngobuningi kwaba insakavukela. Izitshalo zacekelwa phansi nabalimi babalekela emadolobheni amakhulu. Ababebalekela impi banqwabelana eLuanda. Ukwabiwa kokudla nokudayisa izinto ngokungemthetho kwenza ukuphila kwansuku zonke kwaba inselele. Kodwa ukubambisana ngothando koFakazi BakaJehova kwasiza abaningi baqhubeka bephila ngaphansi kwezimo ezazingethembisi.

Phakathi nalesi sikhathi esibucayi, uRui Gonçalves, uHélder Silva, nabanye bafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ukuze bahambele amabandla asakazeke ezweni lonke. Echaza indlela okwakumelwe luhlelwe ngayo lolo hambo, uMfoweth’ uGonçalves wabhala: “Ngo-May 1982 umbonisi wesifunda wahambela eTombua ngokokuqala. Abazalwane abangu-35 baqala ukufika endaweni yomhlangano ngezikhathi ezazihlelwe kahle, kusukela ngo-10:00 ekuseni ngalolo suku. Bathula balinda. I-ODP [Organization for the Defense of the People (INhlangano Evikela Abantu)] yayiqaphe zonke izinto kuleli dolobha. Ngafika sekumnyama, ngemva kwamahora angu-11, ngo-9:00 ebusuku. Ngemva kwemizuzu engu-30, umhlangano waqala, wadonsa kwaze kwaba ngu-4:40 ekuseni.”

Abaningi kulabo ababesemsebenzini wesifunda babeshadile futhi benezingane. Kodwa benza konke ababengakwenza ukuze banakekele izithakazelo ezingokomoya zamabandla. Omunye walaba bazalwane, manje oyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha, wachaza okwakuhilelekile ekuhambeleni amabandla njalo: “Kwakuhlelwe ukuba ibandla ngalinye lihanjelwe isonto elilodwa. Kodwa loku kuhanjelwa kwakuqala ngoMsombuluko hhayi ngoLwesibili. Isizathu kwakuwukuthi ibandla lalingakwazi ukuhlangana ndawonye lonke. Kwakuhanjelwa amaqembu eSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla. Emabandleni amakhulu kwakuhanjelwa amaqembu amaningana ngobusuku obubodwa. Izikhathi zemihlangano zazishintshwashintshwa ukuze umbonisi wesifunda akwazi ukuhambela amaqembu amaningi. Eqenjini ngalinye wayephinda isimiso esifanayo. Ngakho, phakathi nesonto, wayebeka izinkulumo izikhathi ezingu-7 kuya kwezingu-21. Umsebenzi wesonto wawumningi futhi unzima, kodwa abazalwane babekezela futhi bakwazi ukunikeza amabandla isikhuthazo.”

URui Gonçalves ulukhumbula kahle uhambo olubuhlungu lokuya edolobheni laseCubal ngo-January 1983. Wacishe wafa. Wathi: “Okuwukuphela kwendlela esasingafika ngayo kuleli bandla kwakuwukuhamba neviyo lamasosha ukuze asivikele. Ngemva kokuhlolisisa isimo, ibutho lezempi lagunyaza ukuba kuhambe izimoto ezingu-35. Sasihamba ngemoto kaMfoweth’ uGodinho, ingeyesithathu ohideni lwezimoto eziyisithupha. Ngemva kwamahora amabili kuphela uhambo luqalile, abashokobezi bajikijela isikhali esicitshwayo, salivithiza iloli lamasosha elaliphambili. Ngokushesha kwabe sekulandela esinye futhi isikhali esicitshwayo, esavithiza imoto yesibili. Imoto yethu yashaywa amabhomu amabili kodwa angaqhuma. Njengoba imoto ihamba, uMfoweth’ uGodinho wamemeza wathi sonke masigxumele ngaphandle. Njengoba ngiphuthuma ngiyocasha ehlathini, inhlamvu yesibhamu yangihlifiza indlebe yesobunxele, ngaquleka.”

Engakaquleki, wabona amasosha amathathu angabashokobezi ejaha abanye abazalwane, kodwa babalekela ehlathini. UMfoweth’ uGonçalves uyaqhubeka: “Lapho ngiphaphama, ikhanda lami laligcwele igazi. Ngemva kwamahora amaningana, ngagaqa ngabuyela emgwaqweni. Abezempi bangibona, banginikeza usizo lokuqala, base bengiyisa esibhedlela saseBenguela.” Kamuva wezwa ukuthi zonke lezi zimoto ezazihlabe ujenga zasha noma yaphela indaba yazo. Kwakufe abantu abangu-12 ababekulezo zimoto, abanye abangu-11 babelinyazwe izinhlamvu kabi kabi. Abazalwane ababehamba noMfoweth’ uGonçalves yibona kuphela ababengadubulekanga. Futhi yize indlebe kaMfoweth’ uGonçalves yayihlifizeke cishe yonke, futhi elahlekelwe izimpahla zakhe, uphetha ngokuthi: “Sambonga ngokusuka ezinhliziyweni uJehova.”

Ukuhlanganyela Nabanye Amanzi Okuphila

Ngesikhathi abantu abaningi base-Angola becabanga ngokusinda kuphela, oFakazi BakaJehova babeshisekela ukusakaza “izindaba ezinhle” kuyo yonke le nsimu enkulu. (Isaya 52:7) Babewenza kanjani lo msebenzi?

Iphayona laseLuanda lachaza ukuthi lona, umkalo nendodakazi yabo encane babephuma baye enkonzweni ndawonye. Ngemva kokubingelela umninikhaya, babecelela intombazanyana yabo amanzi. Uma bewathola amanzi, babeye batshele umninikhaya ukuthi bona babazi uhlobo lwamanzi oluyoletha izinzuzo ezinkulu nakakhulu kunamanzi abandayo ayenikezwe indodakazi yabo ngomusa. Ababenesifiso sokwazi babebuza, ‘Hlobo luni lwamanzi lolo?’ Lo mkhaya wawube usuchaza izibusiso zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nethemba lokuphila okumi phakade.—Joh. 4:7-15.

Babengaziphathi izikhwama, amaBhayibheli noma izincwadi enkonzweni yabo. Kodwa uma umninikhaya enalo iBhayibheli futhi efuna ukufunda ngalezi zinto, babesebenzisa iBhayibheli lakhe ukuze baqhube ingxoxo. Nomaphi lapho isithakazelo sasiboniswa khona, babephindela. Ngokusebenzisa izindlela ezibonisa ukuqapha njengalena, oFakazi babekwazi ukuthola abantu abathakazelayo, futhi amabandla ayebusiswa ngokwanda kwasikhathi sonke.

Umuntu KaNkulunkulu

Izindawo eziqhelile nazo zazizithola izindaba ezinhle. Ngemizamo kaTchande Cuituna, zafika nasendaweni yaseGambos, eduze komngcele weNamibia. Isigijimi soMbuso waqala ukusizwa ezweni elaliyiRhodesia. Ngemva kokusebenza isikhathi esithile ezimayini zaseNingizimu Afrika, waphindela ekhaya wabe esegxila ekufuyeni izinkomo. Wayevame ukuya eNingizimu Afrika eyolanda izincwadi ze-Watch Tower, futhi kolunye lwalolo hambo, ngo-1961, wabhapathizwa. Ngemva kwalokho, wazisakaza ngentshiseko izindaba ezinhle kubantu bakubo.

Wayeye alayishe amanzi, ukudla nezincwadi zeBhayibheli enqoleni yakhe, abese eyoshumayela kuyi-quimbo ne-quimbo (esigodini esincane kuya kwesinye) izinyanga ezimbili kuya kwezintathu ngesikhathi. Uma inqola yakhe iphuka, wayegibela inkunzi aqhubeke nohambo. Ngisho eseneminyaka engu-70, wayehamba ngezinyawo nabanye abamemezeli ibanga elingaphezu kwamakhilomitha angu-200.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uTchande Cuituna waba nemihlambi emikhulu yezinkomo ezaziklaba emathafeni. Kulo mphakathi wezinzalamizi, wayebhekwa njengenhloko. Imisebenzi yosuku yayiqala ngokukhala kwensimbi ukuze bonke abantu bahlangane bazomlalela ekhulumela umbhalo weBhayibheli ngolimi lwendawo. Ngezinsuku zemihlangano, ukukhala kwensimbi kwakutshela abantu abangaba yikhulu ukuba bahlangane bazolela imfundo engokomoya.

Kuyo yonke le ndawo yaseGambos, uTchande Cuituna waziwa ngokuthi umuntu kaNkulunkulu. Ngokusebenzisa lokho ayekufunde eBhayibhelini nasezincwadini eziyigugu ‘zesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,’ uMfoweth’ uCuituna wabekela abanye isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba basilandele. Ukuze afinyelele abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka, wahumushela incwajana ethi “Lezi Zindaba Ezinhle ZoMbuso” olimini lwesiNyaneka nesiKwanyama.

Ihhovisi laseLuanda lalizwa ngomsebenzi kaMfoweth’ uCuituna ngemibiko yenkonzo yasensimini ayeyithumela ngezikhathi ezithile ngabazalwane baseWindhoek, eNamibia. Lizama ukusondelanisa uMfoweth’ uCuituna nabanye oFakazi, ngo-1979 ihhovisi laseLuanda lathumela kuye uHélder Silva, umbonisi wesifunda. UHélder ulukhumbula kahle lolo hambo.

UMfoweth’ uSilva uyabhala: “Sahamba ngemoto amakhilomitha angu-160 siya eChiange. Sesifikile khona sawahamba ngezinyawo amakhilomitha angu-70 ayesele. Isiphepho esihambisana nemvula enkulu esathatha amahora angaba yisithupha sacishe sasivimbela. Ngezinye izikhathi amanzi ayefika emadolweni, kodwa sasingeke sime ngoba le ndawo yayinezilwane eziningi zasendle eziyingozi. Ngenxa yodaka, kwakulula ukuhamba ngezinyawo ngaphandle kwezicathulo, emqaleni sigaxe induku esasilengise kuyo izimpahla zethu. Ekugcineni, safika eLiokafela, safika nalapho sasiya khona, kuyi-quimbo (isigodi) yaseCuituna. Sasilambile futhi sikhathele, ngakho abesifazane basipha amasi nesiphuzo sakhona sommbila esibizwa ngokuthi i-bulunga (kissangua), ukhokho nokudla kommbila okubizwa ngokuthi i-hita (pirão de massango). Ngemva kokuphumula emlilweni omnandi, sase siyilungele imisebenzi esasiyizele.” Ukuhambela le ndawo kwabangela intuthuko emsebenzini ohleliwe wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle eGambos.

Kwababekhona, akekho oyokhohlwa ukubhapathizwa kwabazalwane nodade abasha abangu-18 ngo-August ka-1986 eMfuleni iCaculuvar. Kwakungabantu bokuqala laba ababhapathizwa eGambos eminyakeni engu-40 selokhu isigijimi soMbuso safika lapha. Amaphayona ayefikele ukuzokwenza lo msebenzi kule ndawo ayengeve ejabula. Amazwi awanakuyichaza injabulo kaMfoweth’ uCuituna njengoba ayebukele lolu bhapathizo. Egida ngenxa yenjabulo, wathi: “Ngizizwa njengeNkosi uDavide ngesikhathi iphelezela umphongolo kaJehova.” (2 Sam. 6:11-15) UMfoweth’ uCuituna uyaqhubeka ekhonza njengephayona elivamile.

Umsebenzi ENingizimu Angola

Ngo-1975, uTymoly owayeneminyaka engu-18, intombi ende yasesifundeni saseHuíla eningizimu Angola, wathola iqiniso ngemizamo yephayona uJosé Tiakatandela. UTymoly wayesithanda isigijimi seBhayibheli, kodwa abazali bakhe babengafuni nakuzwa. Wayencishwa ukudla izinsuku eziningi, ashaywe, futhi wagcina esekhandwe ngamatshe. Njengoba ukuphila kwakhe kwakusengozini, wahamba amakhilomitha angu-60 eya eLubango. Lapho, wakwazi ukuya ezifundweni. Ngosizo lwekilasi lasebandleni lokufunda ukufunda nokubhala, wathuthuka waze wafinyelela eqophelweni lokuba abhalise eSikoleni Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. Wabhapathizwa ngo-1981. UTymoly wafunda nokuthunga ukuze akwazi ukuziphilisa, futhi uyazithungela izingubo zakhe ezihloniphekile nezikahle. Amadoda amathathu nabesifazane abane besizwe sakubo abathola isigijimi soMbuso ngo-1978 babhapathizwa ngo-1980.

Kwathi ngo-1983, uJosé Maria Muvindi, waseLubango, wabhalisela ukuba iphayona elisizayo izinyanga ezintathu. Waya eningizimu, eshumayela emaphandleni azungeze idolobha laseJau nelaseGambos. Waya eSifundeni saseNamibe, esakaza izindaba ezinhle kumaMukubais, isizwe esikhulu. Ebona isidingo esikhulu kulezi zindawo, wabhalisela ukuba iphayona elivamile. Kwafika namanye amaphayona.

Lapho uMfoweth’ uMuvindi eshumayela kule ndawo, amaqiniso eBhayibheli athinta izinhliziyo zabantu abaningi lapha. Baqala ukwenza izinguquko ezazidingeka ekuphileni kwabo. Ukuze bakhonze uJehova ngokwamukelekayo, kwadingeka bayeke imikhuba elahlwa imiBhalo, njengesithembu, ukuziphatha okubi, ukudakwa nokukholelwa ezeni. Bayeka ukugqoka i-tchinkuani, noma ibheshu, nje kuphela. Imibhangqwana yaqala ukuthutheleka eLubango iyobhalisa imishado yayo ngokomthetho. Abanye babeqala ukuphuma esigodini sakubo selokhu baba khona! Ihhovisi likandaba zabantu eChiange elase lineminyaka eyishumi livaliwe, lavulwa kabusha ukuze lisize abantu abaningi ababevela eGambos ababefuna izitifiketi zokuzalwa nomazisi ukuze babhalise imishado yabo.

Kuyadabukisa ukuthi uMfoweth’ uMuvindi wabulawa isifo sokusha kwesibindi ngo-1986, kodwa inkonzo yakhe yentshiseko yathela izithelo ezinhle. Ngemizamo yakhe neyabanye abasebenza kulezi zindawo, abaningi bathola ubufakazi. Namuhla, kunamabandla ayisishiyagalolunye kule ndawo kanye namaqembu ayishumi angakahlelwa ukuba abe amabandla, wonke athuthukisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso kule ndawo.

Ukugadwa Kuyaqina

Ngokubunjwa kwe-Popular Brigades of Vigilantes (BPV) ngo-1984, abafowethu bacindezelwa kabusha. Injongo ye-BPV kwakuwukuqinisekisa ukuthi labo ababengazihlanganisi nenqubo yezinguquko babegadwe ngokuseduze. I-BPV yayiwenza kanjani lo msebenzi wayo? UDomingos Mateus, owayengumbonisi wesifunda ngaleso sikhathi, uyakhumbula: “Kuwo wonke amakhona aseLuanda wawubona ilungu le-Popular Brigade Vigilante, elalifaka ibhande eliluhlaza enhla kwendololwane, libhalwe izinhlamvu ezithi BPV. Laligunyazwe ukuba liseshe noma ubani odlulayo. Kwaya kuba nzima ukuba abazalwane beze nezincwadi emihlanganweni. Ngo-December 1985 amaqembu abaqaphi angu-800 esewonke abhalisela umsebenzi eLuanda, okwenza kwaba nzima ngisho nokuqhuba imihlangano yebandla.

“E-ex-Largo Serpa Pinto iqembu labaqaphi abangaba ngu-40 laligade yonke indawo. Lalihamba namalungu e-Popular Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola, iqembu elalihlome ngezibhamu eziwontuluntulu. Kwakuvamile ukuwezwa eqhumisa izibhamu uma ejaha othile noma uma efuna ukumisa umuntu ukuze amphenye.

“Elinye ibandla lahlela umhlangano omkhulu emzini womzalwane. Usuzoqala nje lo mhlangano, saqaphela ukuthi ilungu le-BPV laligade abazalwane njengoba befika futhi libhala amagama abo encwadini. Yize kwakuyingozi, umzalwane owayehlala lapha wayengesabi. Wafikelwa isu elithile. Wahamba ngokunyenya wayoma ngemva kwale ndoda, kwathi lapho eseseduze kwayo impela, waqala ukumemeza, ‘Bomakhelwane, nant’ isela, vimbani!’

“Emangele, lo mqaphi wacela empunzini, wawisa konke ayekuphethe. Njengoba omakhelwane bephuma ezindlini zabo, abanye belunguza ngamafasitela ukuze babone okwakuqhubeka, lo mzalwane wangena kwakhe wayesetshela umdala: ‘Mfowethu, ungawuqala umhlangano manje, konke sekulungile.’ Yonke imihlangano okwakuhlelwe ukuba iqhutshelwe kulo muzi ngesonto lokuhanjelwa ayizange isaba nazinkinga noma iziphazamiso.”

“Bachitheka Bugayiwe”

Kwaya kuba nzima ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova baxhumane nabafowabo abangamaKristu abangaphandle kwaleli zwe. U-António Alberto wayesebenzela inkampani kapethiloli ongakahluzwa, abanikazi bayo bengabakwelinye izwe. Wayesiza ngokuphatha iposi labazalwane base-Angola nelegatsha lasePortugal.

Kodwa langa limbe ngo-1987, amaphoyisa esikhumulweni sezindiza abamba iphasela elalineposi elalikhuluma ngokuhambela kombonisi wesifunda nezinye izindaba eziyimfihlo. UMfoweth’ u-Alberto waphatheka kabi kakhulu. Emini waya kwakhe eyobona umkhaya wakhe, ngoba wayeqiniseka ngokuthi wayezoboshwa ngokushesha. Washayela umzalwane owayengamele ucingo emazisa lezi zindaba futhi wavele wathi: “Mkhulu, sebuchitheke bugayiwe.”

Ngemva kwalokho, ngesibindi uMfoweth’ u-Alberto waya emzini wendoda eyayiphethe amaphoyisa asesikhumulweni sezindiza. Lo mzalwane wachaza ukuthi wayekade esejele ngaphansi kukahulumeni wamakoloni, eboshwe nezinsizwa ezingamaPutukezi, nokuthi babethintana ngokubhalelana, futhi iphasela elinalezo zincwadi libanjiwe esikhumulweni sezindiza. Isikhulu samaphoyisa samnikeza ikhadi lokuba alinikeze indoda eyayibambe iphasela lakhe, sathi lelo phasela malilethwe ehhovisi laso. Lapho lo mzalwane etshela indoda yasesikhumulweni sezindiza lo myalezo, leli phoyisa lakhathazeka kakhulu. Likhathazwa yini? Ukuthi lalingeke likwazi ukuhambisa lelo posi esikhulwini samaphoyisa—lalishisiwe! Kwathí gidi kuMfoweth’ u-Alberto, kwakungonakele lutho.

Bazimisele Ukuhamba Ezindleleni ZikaJehova

Impi eyayiqhubeka yaphinde yacindezela oFakazi BakaJehova ukuba bayeke ukungathathi hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu. Ngo-February 1984, izinsizwa ezingu-13 zaboshwa ngoba zenqaba ukuphatha izikhali. Zintathu kuphela ezazingoFakazi ababhapathiziwe kuzo; ezinye zazingabamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe ezinye zifundelwa iBhayibheli. Naphezu kwezinsongo nokuhlukunyezwa, zazibonakalisa ziqinisile esinqumweni sazo sokuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova. (Isaya 2:3, 4) Ngokudabukisayo, lapho ziyiswa eLuanda ngendiza, yaphahlazeka ngesikhathi isuka, kwafa bonke ababegibele.

Ngo-April 1985 iqembu labangu-9— elalinoFakazi ababhapathiziwe, abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe, nabantu abathakazelayo—lenqaba ukuthatha uhlangothi. (Joh. 17:16) Bahanjiswa ngesitimela, kwase kuba indiza enophephela emhlane, bayiswa lapho impi yayibambene khona ngezihluthu. Lapho amaphoyisa ezama ukubaphoqa ukuba bahlanganyele empini futhi uManual Morais de Lima enqaba, wadutshulwa wafa. Omunye umzalwane washaywa ngohlobo oluthile lwesibhamu olwamlimaza kabi emlenzeni, ngakho wasuswa kule ndawo okwakuliwa kuyo wayiswa esibhedlela. Abanye abazalwane ababili batshelwa, “Izindiza ezinilethe lapha akuzona ezikaJehova,” ngakho okuwukuphela kwendlela ababengahamba ngayo kwakuyizinyawo—amakhilomitha angu-200 benqamula endaweni eyayinamabutho abashokobezi nezilwane zasendle. Lapho befika eLuanda, baphinde baboshwa! Noma kunjalo, babesaqiniseka ukuthi ukubuswa uthando ngoJehova uNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane kuyindlela efanele yokuphila.—Luka 10:25-28.

Kwesinye isigigaba, oFakazi abane bathunyelwa ekamu lezempi eliqhelile eningizimu Angola. Amasosha ayeqiniseka ukuthi ukushuba kwempi kwakuzobaphoqa lab’ oFakazi ukuba bathathe izikhali ukuze bazivikele. Kunalokho, njengoba kukhumbula uMiguel Quiambata, njengoba ezinye izikhulu zazihlabeke umxhwele ngenxa yokuqina kwala madoda futhi zibona ukuthi awanangozi, zawanika inkululeko yokuzihambahambela kule ndawo. Leyo nkululeko ayisebenzisela ukufundisa abanye ngelungiselelo likaJehova lokuphila okuphakade ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. Ngo-1987, ngesikhathi begubha iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu, kwakunabangu-47, futhi ngokushesha ababeba khona emihlanganweni babeba ngu-58.

OFakazi BakaJehova abangaba ngu-300 babesesejele ngo-1990 ngenxa yokungathathi hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu. Abanye babedonse izigwebo ezimbili, ngasinye siyiminyaka engaphezu kwemihlanu. Abanye babeboshwe iminyaka emine engazange athethwe amacala abo. Ngisho nalapho benikwa ushwele, ezinye iziphathimandla zasejele zabafihlela abazalwane lokhu, zaqhubeka zibagqume ejele. Ezinye zaziphuza ukubadedela ngoba zazibheka oFakazi njengezisebenzi zabo ezikahle kakhulu, futhi zazibethemba ukuthi imisebenzi yangaphandle kwamajele bazoyenza ngaphandle kokuzama ukweqa. Futhi lowo shwele ababewunikeziwe awuzange ukuvimbele ukuboshwa nokunqunywa koFakazi ababili ngo-1994.

Kamuva, ngesikhathi udade oyiphayona ehambisa i-Kingdom News No. 35, wahlangana nendoda eyayike yaba sebuthweni lezempi, futhi eyamtshela ukuthi yayikhona ngesikhathi kubulawa oFakazi abathathu ababenqabe ukulwa empini. Lapho ibuzwa ukuthi umhlaba ungaba indawo engcono yini uma bonke abantu bengaba oFakazi BakaJehova, yathi uma bekwazi ukubhekana nokufa ngoba bengafuni ukubulala abanye abantu, ngempela umhlaba ungaba nokuthula uma bonke abantu bengaba oFakazi BakaJehova. Yathatha incwajana ethi Yini UNkulunkulu Ayifunayo Kithi?, yavuma ukuqhutshelwa isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi yaqala ukuya ezifundweni.

Amanzi Eqiniso Ayaqhubeka Egeleza

UJehova wanikeza umprofethi uHezekeli umbono wamanzi okuphila ageleza esuka ethempelini likaNkulunkulu elikhulu elingokomoya. Ayedlula ezithiyweni, ezweni elimagebhugebhu, futhi eletha ukuphila endaweni eyayingenako ukuphila. (Hez. 47:1-9) Namuhla, naphezu kwezithiyo, la manzi eqiniso anika ukuphila aye agelezela emazweni angaphezu kuka-230, kuhlanganise ne-Angola.

Ngezinye izikhathi izithiyo ziye zabonakala zingenakunqobeka, kodwa amanzi okuphila avela kuNkulunkulu aye achusha kuzo. Phakathi neminyaka yawo-1980, imithetho yokuhlolwa kweposi yayiqine kangangokuthi yimiyalezo eyayifika neposi laphesheya elalingafiki njalo eyayifinyelela ehhovisi laseLuanda. Noma kunjalo, izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezinamaqiniso aqabulayo zazeqa umngcele ophakathi kwe-Angola neNamibia, lapho kwakulula khona ukudlula. Izincwadi zesiPutukezi nezezilimi zendawo zazitholakala ngale ndlela. Leli lungiselelo lasebenza iminyaka eminingi kule ndawo.

Usizo lwaluvela ezindaweni eziningi. Abantu abaningi abafundile babebasiza abazalwane ekutholeni amaBhayibheli. Ngisho nezisebenzi ezazikwezempi, ezinye ezazinezihlobo ezingoFakazi, zazifaka engozini enkulu ukuze zisize abazalwane e-Angola. Izimpahla eziningi zasehhovisi, kuhlanganise nomshini obalulekile wokwenza amakhophi, zazithunyelwa ngamagama abantu abayizikhulu. Omunye walabo bantu kamuva wakhetha ukuzihlanganisa nabantu bakaJehova ekukhonzeni ngaphansi kokuqondisa ‘kweSikhulu [sikaNkulunkulu] Sokuthula.’—Isaya 9:6.

Ngo-1984, uThierry Duthoit nomkakhe, uManuela, bathuthela e-Angola besuka eZaire (manje eyi-Democratic Republic of Congo). Abazalwane bendawo babathanda kakhulu. UMfoweth’ uDuthoit weyemude futhi abantu babeye bacabange ukuthi ungumRashiya. Ngaphansi kukahulumeni wangaleso sikhathi, amaRashiya amaningi ayese-Angola ayenenkululeko ephelele.

Loku kungaqondakali kwakhe kwasetshenziswa ngokunenzuzo ukuze kuleli zwe elaloniwe impi kulethwe izincwadi ezikhuluma ngendlela uJehova uNkulunkulu ayosilethela ngayo isintu ukuthula kweqiniso ngoMbuso KaMesiya, futhi akwenze kufinyelele nasemikhawulweni yomhlaba. (IHu. 72:7, 8) UMfoweth’ uDuthoit waxhumana nabantu abaningi bezamabhizinisi abangabashayeli bezindiza abavuma ukungenisa amabhokisi ezincwadi zeBhayibheli kuleli zwe. UMfoweth’ uDuthoit wayezilanda esikhumulweni sezindiza, aziyise kubazalwane. Wathola nemithi abazalwane ababegula ababeyidinga kakhulu.

NgoMfoweth’ uDuthoit, abazalwane abanemithwalo yemfanelo bazana noMnu. Ilídio Silva, usomabhizinisi, owanikela ngemishini emibili yokwenza amakhophi. Kwakunzima kakhulu ukuba abazalwane bathole le mishini, ngoba uhulumeni wayegcina uhlu lwemishini yamahhovisi eyayikuleli zwe. UMnu. Silva naye wabusiswa, njengoba ekugcineni aba inceku kaJehova ebhapathiziwe.

Njengoba kwase kunale mishini kagesi yokwenza amakhophi, kwakhiqizwa INqabayokulinda enamakhasi angu-20. Yayisinezihloko eziseceleni ezazibeqile abazalwane base-Angola ngaphambili. Ngesikhashana nje, kwase kunyatheliswe isilinganiso samakhophi angu-10 000 kamagazini ngamunye. Kwanyatheliswa nencwajana ethi Ukuhlola ImiBhalo, futhi abazalwane bayazisa kakhulu. Kwathunyelwa ukwaziswa okuthile kuvela ePortugal kuthathwe encwadini ethi “Yonke ImiBhalo Iphefumlelwe Futhi Inenzuzo” ukuze nayo inyatheliswe. Kamuva, lokho kwaziswa kwatholakala sekuyincwajana. Lokhu kwasiza kakhulu ekucebiseni isimiso seSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini. Yeka indlela ayeqabula ngayo wonke la malungiselelo angokomoya!

Ubufakazi besibusiso saphezulu babuhlanganisa nokwanda kwabantu abadumisa uJehova kuleli zwe. Ekupheleni konyaka wenkonzo ka-1987, abantu ababika umsebenzi njengoFakazi bafinyelela ku-8 388, okuwukwanda ngamaphesenti angaphezu kuka-150 kusukela umsebenzi wavinjelwa ngo-1978. Inani lamabandla nalo lase landile, lisuka ku-33 laya ku-89. Yize kwakuqashelisiswa ngaphambi kokuba abasanda kuthakazela bamenyelwe emihlanganweni, abamemezeli ababeba khona babengamaphesenti angu-150. Abamemezeli babenza isilinganiso samahora angu-18 inyanga nenyanga, futhi izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya zafinyelela inani eliphezulu lika-23 665! Yiqiniso, kwakunezinkinga zezomnotho, futhi ukudla kwakuyindlala. Kodwa ukuqiniseka abafowethu abanakho ezithembisweni zikaJehova kwabenza bama baqina. Babezimisele ukuqhubeka “bekhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi.”—IzE. 4:31.

Ukuqeqeshwa Okukhethekile Kwababonisi Besifunda

Ababonisi abajikelezayo ababezinikela njalo ngenxa yamabandla nabo babesidinga isikhuthazo. Abeve bajabula lapho bezwa ngamalungiselelo okuba baye emhlanganweni okhethekile wokufundisa ababonisi abajikelezayo eLisbon, ePortugal, ngo-November 1988!

Cabanga ngenjabulo ababa nayo ngokuba nobudlelwane nsuku zonke nomkhaya waseBethel yasePortugal! ULuis Cardoso, owayekhona kulo mhlangano, uyifingqa kanje indlela abazizwa ngayo: “Lesi kwakuyisikhathi esijabulisa kakhulu kimina. Umkhaya waseBethel ePortugal wasamukela ngezandla ezifudumele. Sasiphakathi komhlane nembeleko. Lezo zinsuku ezingu-34 kwakuyizinsuku zomsebenzi ojabulisayo futhi sifunda.”

Baqale bachitha amasonto amabili besebenza nababonisi abajikelezayo ezifundeni zasePortugal ukuze bafunde ngokuzibonela. Emasontweni amabili alandelayo, baya emhlanganweni wokubafundisa. Wawugxile emkhakheni wabo womsebenzi ongokwasezulwini, futhi wabahlomisela amakilasi eSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso ababesazowafundisa. Ngesonto elilandelayo, babesemakilasini eSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso ayeqhutshelwa abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo ePortugal. Lokhu kwanikeza abazalwane base-Angola ithuba lokubona indlela ababonisi abajikelezayo base-Portugal ababebafundisa ngayo abadala bendawo lokho ababekufunde emhlanganweni wabo.

“Lo mhlangano wangifundisa ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukuba umfundi okhuthele,” kusho uMfoweth’ uCardoso. “Ngafunda ukutadisha nokucwaninga ngendlela engangingakaze ngenze ngayo ngaphambili. Ngesibonelo sabo, abazalwane basifundisa ukubonisa omkethu ukuthi siyabacabangela ukuze sisebenzisane ngobunye. Umvuthwandaba walesi sikhathi esingasoze sisikhohlwe kwaba yilapho abazalwane besibukisa ‘i-Photo Drama of Creation.’ Ngase ngizwe okuningi ngayo, kodwa manje ukuyibuka kwangihlaba umxhwele.”

Ngo-October 1990, kwenezelwa kuleyo mfundo ngokuthi uMário Nobre, umbonisi wesifunda wasePortugal, abelwe ukuba asebenze nababonisi besifunda base-Angola lapho bekhonza amabandla asezweni lakubo. Wachitha izinyanga ezimbili eqeqesha abazalwane, futhi basazisa kakhulu isimo sakhe somusa nesokubekezela.

Ngentokozo enkulu, uMfoweth’ uNobre ulandisa okwenzeka ngemva kwezinsuku ezimbalwa efike e-Angola: “Kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba nginikeze inkulumo yeningi ebandleni elinabamemezeli abangu-198. Ngabamba ongezansi lapho ngibona kufika abangu-487. Ngamangala uma umbonisi owengamele engicela ukuba ngiphinde ngiyinikeze le nkulumo. Kwakukhona uhhafu webandla ekuqaleni! Ngavuma, futhi kwaba khona abangu-461 enkulumweni yesibili, ingqikithi yaba ngu-948!”

Ngesikhathi elapha, uMfoweth’ uNobre wafunda okuningi ngokuphila kwabazalwane base-Angola kwansuku zonke. Wathola ukuthi imigwaqo yaseLuanda yayiyingozi ngenxa yokuqhuma kwezibhamu, kodwa washeshe wasijwayela isimo futhi wagxila esithakazelweni esingavamile esasiboniswa abantu esigijimini soMbuso. Mayelana nendawo ayehlala kuyo, uthi: “Abazalwane banginikeza okungcono kunakho konke ababenakho. Sasinobala, kodwa lwalwanele.”

Isomiso Esikhulu

Ekuqaleni kuka-1990, umgibeli wehhashi elimnyama le-Apocalypse—indlala—wagadla eningizimu ye-Angola lapho kubhubhisa isomiso esikhulu esathatha izinyanga ezintathu. (IsAm. 6:5, 6) Izitshalo zafa. Ukuhlupheka kwakudla umunyu. Ngokwe-Diário de Notícias yaseLisbon, kwafa okungenani abangu-10 000 ngenxa yesomiso.

Lapho igatsha lasePortugal lizwa ngalesi simo, abazalwane basheshe bathumela amabhokisi amabili amakhulu ensimbi ngabazalwane nangosomabhizinisi ababenesithakazelo eqinisweni leBhayibheli. Elinye lamabhokisi laya eBenguela, elinye laya eLuanda.

Igatsha laseNingizimu Afrika lathumela amathani angu-25 ezimpahla zosizo, zadlula eNamibia ngeloli. Ngesikhathi abazalwane befika eWindhoek, bacela imvume enxuseni lase-Angola ukuze bangenise izimpahla kubafowabo abangamaKristu e-Angola. Yize lesi sikhulu sasazi ukuthi oFakazi abaqashelwa ngokomthetho ezweni lakubo, sazikhipha ngenjabulo izincwadi ezazidingeka ukuze izimpahla zosizo zifike kulabo bantu ababehlupheka. Kwaze kwenziwa ngisho nelungiselelo lokuba iloli liphelezelwe abezempi ukuze baqikelele ukuthi lifika ngokuphepha lapho laliya khona.

Lapho iloli lifika ebhulohweni lokuciciyela loMfula iCunene, abazalwane kwadingeka bakhiphe zonke izinto bazifake evenini encane, bese bezibuyisela elolini ngemva kokuba sebewelile. Ngemva kokudlula ezikhungweni ezingaphezu kuka-30 elaliseshwa kuzo, leli loli lafika eLubango. Lolu hambo olwaba impumelelo lwacaba indlela yamanye amaloli amathathu, ngalinye lithwele inqwaba yezimpahla zosizo.

UFlávio Teixeira Quental, owayekhona eLubango ngesikhathi kufika iloli lokuqala, uyakhumbula: “Lapho sibona iloli lokuqala lifika cishe ngehora lesithathu ntambama, sazizwa sijabula kakhulu futhi saduduzeka, simangele futhi sinexhala. Sasizowabekaphi amathani angu-25 ezincwadi, izingubo nokudla? IHholo LoMbuso lethu lalingenazo izicabha namafasitela, futhi umuzi wethu wawumncane kakhulu ukuba ungathatha wonke lawo mabhokisi. Ngokushesha sahlela abazalwane ukuba bagade emini nasebusuku, sabe sesibeka zonke izinto eHholo LoMbuso.”

Zonke izimpahla zabiwa ngokushesha. UMfoweth’ uQuental uyaqhubeka: “Kwakuyisikhathi sempi lesi. . . . Ngokuvamile ngalesi sikhathi sasiye sibe nomagazini owodwa webandla lonke. Sasingeve simbonga uJehova, inhlangano yakhe nabafowethu abathandekayo abafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ngenxa yabazalwane ababengabazi nakubazi! Lokhu kwasikhumbuza uhlobo lothando uJesu alubonisa isintu ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe kobuntu ngenxa yabanye.”—Joh. 3:16.

Incwadi yokubonga eyayivela kubadala baseBenguela yayithi: “Bekunomsebenzi omkhulu kule mpelasonto edlule njengoba izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingu-32 bezaba lezi zimpahla ezifikile. Siyababonga labo abashukunyiswa izinhliziyo ezilungile ukuba basithumelele lesi sipho.” Yize kwakunendlala, abekho abazalwane ababulawa indlala.

Isithembiso Samalungelo Abantu

Ngo-May 31, 1991, amaqembu alwayo e-Angola asayina isivumelwano sokubeka phansi izikhali, okwaletha inkathi yokuthula okusesilinganisweni esithile. Kwavunyelwana ngomthetho-sisekelo omusha, owawuthembisa amalungelo abantu nawezombusazwe. Impi yombango yeminyaka engu-16 yayishiye izwe limapeketwane. Kwakufe abantu abangaba ngu-300 000. Indoda yayiphila iminyaka engu-43; owesifazane ephila engu-46. Ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi nokwehla kwamandla emali kwakudlanga. Uhlelo lwemfundo lwaluphazamiseke kakhulu. Kuningi okwakudinga ukulungiswa. Ingabe kwakuyohlanganisa nokukhululeka koFakazi BakaJehova ekuvinjelweni okwakuqale ngo-1978?

Ngo-October 22, 1991, ungqongqoshe wezobulungisa wanikwa isicelo sokubhalisa inhlangano yenkolo yoFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola. Nabezindaba banikezwa lesi sicelo ukuze saziwe umphakathi.

Ngakusasa okusayo i-Jornal de Angola yashicilela isihloko ngokwengxenye esasithi: “Ngokusho komkhulumeli woFakazi e-Angola, kunethemba lokuthi le Nhlangano izoqashelwa, futhi ibincomeka indlela uNgqongqoshe Wezobulungisa ayamukele ngayo le ndaba okokuqala.” Lesi sihloko sabuye sabukeza nomlando woFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola, kanye nomlando wabo emazweni anjengePortugal neMozambique, lapho ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova kwase kususiwe.

Ngokokuqala ngqá e-Angola, kwakhulunywa kahle ngoFakazi BakaJehova! Ngemva kwezinsuku eziningana, umqondisi waleli phephandaba wathi wayethole izingcingo eziningi, zivela nakubantu abasezikhundleni eziphezulu, bemncoma ngokunyathelisa lesi sihloko.

“Isigigaba Engingasoze Ngasilibala”

Kakade oFakazi BakaJehova base beqala ukuhlangana ndawonye ngenkululeko eyengeziwe. Amabandla anabamemezeli abayikhulu ayebika ukuthi emihlanganweni kwakufika abantu abangu-300 kuya ku-500! OFakazi ababephoqelekile ukuba bahlangane ngamaqembu amancane emizini yabanye kuze kube yilesi sikhathi, babezosihlalisaphi isixuku esingaka? Abanye abazalwane abanamagceke amakhulu babakha uphahla lukathayela bese bethi ibandla lingasebenzisa leyo ndawo. Amabandla amaningi ayemane ahlanganyele esigangeni. Abamemezeli babekhuthazwa ukuba bameme abantu abafundelwa iBhayibheli abase bethuthuke kahle kuphela ukuba beze ezifundweni nasemihlanganweni emikhulu ngoba yayingekho indawo yokuhlalisa olunye uquqaba. Izindawo zokukhulekela zazidingeka ngokuphuthumayo.

UDouglas Guest noMário P. Oliveira basuka ePortugal bathunywa ukuba bayosiza abazalwane bahlaziye umsebenzi futhi bacabangele izinto ezazizodingeka. Ngesikhathi beselapha, kwaba nemihlangano ekhethekile yabadala namaphayona ayevela emabandleni angu-127 aseLuanda. Kwavela nethuba lokuhlangana nabadala basemabandleni angu-30 angaphandle kwenhloko-dolobha. Zonke izingxenye zezwe zazimelelwe. Yeka isikhathi esakhayo okwaba yiso!

Kwakuyisenzakalo esithinta inhliziyo ngokujulile nakuMfoweth’ uGuest. Wayesesebenzelane eduze nalaba bazalwane iminyaka engu-30 ngokubabhalela izincwadi. Ekhumbula lolu hambo, wathi: “Kwakuphawuleka ukungakhonondi kwabo ngesimo sabo. Ubuso babo obuchachambile babuveza ukuthula kwangaphakathi, bubonisa ukuthi babephila kahle ngokomoya. Ababekhuluma ngakho nje kwakungamathuba okwandisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ezweni labo. Kwakuyisigigaba engingasoze ngasilibala.”

Ukuqashelwa Ngokomthetho Futhi

Ngo-April 10, 1992, iphepha likahulumeni elingokomthetho, i-Diário da República, lamemezela ukuthi iNhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova yayisiqashelwa ngokomthetho. OFakazi BakaJehova bazimisela ukuwasebenzisa ngokunenzuzo amathuba okwabavulela wona lokhu. Ngokushesha, kwaba nenani elisha eliphakeme labamemezeli abangu-18 911—ukwanda ngamaphesenti angu-30 kunesilinganiso sangonyaka owawandulele. Izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ezingu-56 075—isilinganiso sezifundo ezintathu ummemezeli ngamunye—zabonisa ukuthi kunesivuno esikhulu ngaphambili.

Igatsha laseNingizimu Afrika labe selitshelwa ukuba liqale ukuthumela INqabayokulinda, i-Phaphama! nezinye izincwadi e-Angola. Kwathengwa amaloli amabili ukuze kube lula ukuhambisa izincwadi emabandleni. Abeve bajabula abazalwane lapho kufika amakhophi angu-24 000 e-Nqabayokulida ka-May 1, 1992, nangu-12 000 e-Phaphama! ka-May 8, 1992! Ngokushesha nje base benezincwadi ezanele ababengaqhuba ngazo izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya. Ngaphambi kwalokhu, ukuze baqhube izifundo, abanye abamemezeli babeyibamba ngekhanda yonke imibuzo nezimpendulo ezisencwadini efundwayo.

Baphinde Babhekana Nezikhathi Ezinzima!

Udlame lwalungaphelile. Ngemva kokhetho lwango-September 1992, izwe laphinde ladwengulwa impi yombango. Ngo-October 30 kwagqashuka impi eshubile emadolobheni amakhulu amahlanu: ELubango, eBenguela, eHuambo, eLobito naseLuanda ikakhulukazi, lapho kwabikwa khona ukuthi kwafa abayinkulungwane ezinsukwini zokuqala zempi.

Izibhedlela zazigcwele zikhuza phezulu. Izidumbu zazidindilize emigwaqweni. Izifo zabhebhetheka. Kwaphela amasonto amaningi ungekho ugesi, ukudla namanzi. Ukweba nokuphanga kwakuthé bhe. Iningi lezakhamuzi lahlukumezeka.

OFakazi BakaJehova abaningi eLuanda babulawa; abanye kwabikwa ukuthi badukile. Lapho iPortugal ithola imibiko yezimo ezicindezelayo zabafowethu, leli gatsha lathumela ukudla nemithi ngokushesha.

Phakathi nalesi sikhathi sokulwa kwamaqembu ezombusazwe, umphakathi wawukubona ukungathathi hlangothi okuqinile koFakazi BakaJehova. Kwezwakala izinkulumo ezinhle ezithi yibona kuphela ababengahlanganyeli kwezombusazwe futhi bengathathi hlangothi emzabalazweni. Abantu abathakazelayo baqala ukuziyela koFakazi emigwaqweni beyocela ukuqhutshelwa izifundo zeBhayibheli.

Njengoba oFakazi nabo bebheka isimo sabo, babeqiniseka ukuthi kwakugcwaliseka kubo isiprofetho seBhayibheli, futhi lokhu kwakuqinisa nakakhulu ukuthembela kwabo eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Bakwazisa ukuthi incwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, yayifundwa ngesikhathi esifanele, ikakhulukazi le ngxenye ekhuluma ngemisebenzi yesilo sasendle kulezi zinsuku zokugcina.

Umyalezo Ovela ENdikimbeni Ebusayo

Ngemva nje kokugqashuka kabusha kodlame, iNdikimba Ebusayo yathumela egatsheni lasePortugal incwadi ethinta inhliziyo eyayikhuluma ngokukhathazeka kwayo ngabazalwane base-Angola. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, le ncwadi yayikhuluma ngezidingo eziphuthumayo zabazalwane base-Angola. Ekuphetheni, iNdikimba Ebusayo yacela ukuba ikhonzelwe kubazalwane base-Angola ngothando olufudumele.

Lapho abazalwane baseLuanda bethola lo myalezo, bambonga ngobuqotho uJehova ngenhlangano enothando ebanakekela ngesisa kangaka abantu bakhe ezikhathini zokucindezeleka. La mazwi othando ayiduduza ngokukhethekile imikhaya yabazalwane abashona ngesikhathi sodlame.

Umhlangano Wesigodi Oyingqopha-mlando

Ngo-January 1993, izimo zaseLuanda zazithé ukuzola, futhi abamemezeli abaningi basezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zezwe bakwazi ukuya eMhlanganweni Wesigodi “Wabaphathi Bokukhanya” owawusenhloko-dolobha. Abanye babehambe amabanga amade ngezinyawo. Omunye udade waseSifundazweni SaseHuambo wahamba izinsuku ezingu-7 nezingane zakhe ezincane ezine, endala ineminyaka eyisithupha nje kuphela. Wafika ekhathele eyingcuba kodwa ejabulile, ebheke phambili edilini elingokomoya ababezolijabulela.

Kwaqashwa i-Industrial Fair Pavilion ukuba isetshenziswe amasonto amabili alandelanayo. Kwafika ama-generator nemibhobho kuvela ePortugal. Nakuba abazalwane babememe kuphela labo ababeza njalo emihlanganweni, le nkundla yagcwala pháma kuyo yomibili imihlangano. Ingqikithi yababekhona yayingu-24 491. Kwakuqala ngqá ukuba abazalwane base-Angola bakwazi ukujabulela isimiso esiphelele somhlangano wezinsuku ezintathu, kuhlanganise nedrama. Zingu-629 izikhonzi ezintsha ezabhapathizwa kuleyo mihlangano, futhi ababeze emihlanganweni bajabulela ukuthola incwajana ethi Jabulela Ukuphila Phakade Emhlabeni! ngesiKikongo, isiKimbundu nesi-Umbundu, kanye nethi Ingabe UNkulunkulu Uyasikhathalela Ngempela? ngesiPutukezi.

Izikhulu zikahulumeni zakubhekisisa ukuziphatha okuhle koFakazi ababekhona. Kwakwehluke kakhulu kulokho okwakwenzeka eLuanda. Ngosuku owaqala ngalo umhlangano wokuqala, emadolobheni amancane ahlukahlukene ababaleki abase bebuya baphathwa ngobudlova. Abaningi babulawa futhi abanye abangamakhulu amaningi balimala. Ukuphanga kwakuthé bhe. Imizi yacekelwa phansi, kuhlanganise neyabazalwane abathile. Leli fu elimnyama lodlame elase liqubuke kabusha lenza kwaphawuleka kakhulu ukukhanya okungokomoya okwakujatshulelwa abantu bakaJehova.—Isaya 60:2.

Amabandla Awakwazi Ukuxhumana Nehhovisi

Ngenxa yokulwa okwase kuqale phansi, kancane kancane amabandla amaningi ezifundazweni awabange esakwazi ukuxhumana nehhovisi laseLuanda. Iqembu lezempi eliphikisayo lamisa ikomkhulu lalo eHuambo ngo-January 1993, kwabe sekugqashuka impi evuthayo. Abazalwane babalekela emahlathini bonke ngesikhathi leli dolobha elihle licekelwa phansi. Kwaze kwaphela izinyanga ezine kungazwakali lutho ngamabandla angu-11 ayekuleli dolobha. Ekugcineni, ngo-April kwafika umyalezo omfushane: “Ababekhona eSikhumbuzweni emabandleni angu-11 aseHuambo: 3 505. Kuze kube manje, asikhali ngalutho.” Akuve kwajabulisa ukuzwa ukuthi akukho mzalwane owayebulewe!

Ezinyangeni naseminyakeni eyalandela, kwafika imibiko eyengeziwe, inomlando wokwethembeka nokukhuthazela. Elinye ibandla labika: “Isikhathi esibi kunazo zonke kwakuyizinyanga ezimbili impi eyayiyimbi ngazo kangangokuba akukho muntu owayelinga azulazule emigwaqweni emini. Abazalwane babeqoqana ndawonye egunjini elingaphansi kwesakhiwo sokuhlala. Babephuma ebusuku bayofuna amanzi ababezowabilisa ukuze babe namanzi okuphuza ngakusasa. Abantu ababezama ukweqa umgwaqo besuka kwesinye isakhiwo beya kwesinye ngokuvamile babedutshulwa. Abazalwane babekuthola kanjani ukudla? Babehlanganiselana imali ukuze bathenge ilayisi emasosheni elalimba eqolo. Umuntu ngamunye wayenikezwa inkomishi eyodwa ngelanga. Uma bengakwazi ukuthola ukudla, babethiba indlala ngokuphuza amanzi abilile. Babengakwazi ukuthola izincwadi, kodwa ukuze bahlale beqinile ngokomoya, babefunda omagazini nezincwadi ababenazo beziphindaphinda. Umphumela uwukuthi manje bazizwa besondelene eduze noJehova.”

Kwaze kwaphela iminyaka emibili ibandla eliseSifundeni SaseKwanza Norte lingakwazi ukuxhumana nehhovisi eLuanda. Nakuba bengabodwa, oFakazi bendawo bawugcina ngokwethembeka umbiko wenkonzo yabo yasensimini kanye nemali yeminikelo ababeyenzile. Kwakusinda kwehlela kubona, kodwa abayisebenzisanga imali yeminikelo. Futhi baqhubeka benikelela umsebenzi womhlaba wonke. Ekugcineni lapho sebekwazi ukuxhumana nehhovisi, bazithumela lezi zimali. Yeka isibonelo sokwazisa inhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo!

Ukunwetshwa KweBethel

Ekupheleni kuka-1992, iNhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova yakwazi ukuthenga umuzi onezitezi ezintathu owawuqashiwe futhi uyihhovisi lekomiti yezwe. Ngawo lowo nyaka, yakwazi nokuqasha ishede elalingagcina izincwadi, kamuva lasetshenziselwa ukunyathelisa imisebenzi emincane. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili kwase kuhlelwa ukuba lo muzi ulungiswe futhi kwenezelwe kuwo isakhiwo esinezitezi ezintathu.

Izimpahla zalo msebenzi zazingenakuthengwa kuleli zwe, ngakho ePortugal kwakhiwa izingxenye zesakhiwo okwakuhlongozwa ukuba sakhiwe, zabe sezithunyelwa e-Angola ngamabhokisi amakhulu ensimbi. UCarlos Cunha, uJorge Pegado noNoé Nunes bafika bevela ePortugal bezosiza ngamakhono abo okwakha. Umbonisi walo msebenzi, uMário P. Oliveira, wasePortugal, uyalandisa: “Ngesikhathi isakhiwo siqalwa ngo-July 1994, kwakuphithizela nje eBethel njengoba amabhokisi ezimpahla ayefika elandelana. Wonke umuntu emkhayeni wasiza ekwehliseni izimpahla emabhokisini ayefika enawo wonke amathuluzi nezimpahla zokwakha, kuhlanganise nopende, ama-tile, izicabha, izinhlaka zamafasitela nokunye. Umkhaya waseBethel wawufundile ngezindlela zokwakha isakhiwo ngendlela eyonga isikhathi, kodwa manje wawungasakholwa lapho ubona isivinini esakhiwa ngaso lesi sakhiwo sezitezi ezintathu.”

Ekupheleni kwalo msebenzi, umzalwane wendawo wathumela le ncwadi yokwazisa: “Ngiyambonga uJehova ngokuthi ngavunyelwa ukufaka isandla ekwakhiweni kweBethel entsha. Ekuqaleni kwakufana nephupho, kodwa seligcwalisekile. Kwakuyilungelo elikhulu ukuba khona lapho kufundwa itekisi losuku, elalingikhuthaza kakhulu. Wonke amalungu omkhaya waseBethel ngawazi ngamagama, amanye awo engangiye ngigcine ngokuwabona eyizikhulumi emihlanganweni. Ngicela kuJehova ukuthi uma esikhathini esizayo kwakhiwa iBethel entsha noma esinye isakhiwo, ngibe nelungelo elikhulu lokufaka isandla kulowo msebenzi.”

Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kuye kwathengwa isiza esingamahektare angu-4,5 esiqhele ngamakhilomitha ayishumi eLuanda, ukuze kunakekelwe izidingo ezikhulayo. Sithemba ukuthi ihhovisi elisha nekhaya laseBethel lizokwakhiwa lapha.

Abazalwane nodade bakwamanye amazwe ababezimisele ukusiza batheleka e-Angola. Ngo-May nango-June 1994 kwafika izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-8. Abazalwane baseNingizimu Afrika babeya bephindelela e-Angola beyosiza ekuxhumeni umshini omusha wokunyathelisa nasekufundiseni abazalwane bendawo ukuthi usebenza kanjani. Abazalwane basePortugal bafika bezosiza ihhovisi ngama-computer, ukugcinwa kwezincwadi nezinye izindaba zokuhlela umsebenzi. Izikhonzi zaseBethel ezikhonza kwamanye amazwe ezivela eCanada naseBrazil zanikela ngamakhono azo. Abazalwane abeve bakujabulela ukuzimisela kwabo ukusiza ngomsebenzi kanye nokuqeqesha kwabo abazalwane bendawo emisebenzini ebalulekile!

Imihlangano Emikhulu Inikeza Ubufakazi Obuhle

Ngo-1994 kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba imihlangano yesigodi ibe sezindaweni ezengeziwe. Emibili yayo yaqhutshelwa ezifundeni zalapha ngokokuqala ngqá: owodwa waba seBenguela, kwaba khona abangu-2 043, omunye waba seNamibe, kwaba khona abangu-4 088. Ingqikithi yababekhona yaba ngu-67 278, kwabhapathizwa abangu-962.

Umphathi wesakhiwo esithile wahlatshwa umxhwele yilokho akubona waze wanikela ngale nkundla yakhe ukuba isetshenziswe mahhala amasonto amabili elandelana. Umuntu othakazelayo wathi: “Ayive imihle imikhuba engiyibonile! Bengingezelanga ukuzoba inhloli; ngifisa ukuqhubeka ngikhonza nani. Ngicela ningibonise umusa omkhulu ningithumelele umuntu ozongifundisa ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka, ukuze ngisilandele ngokuqinile isibonelo senu.”

Ngesikhathi soMhlangano Wesigodi ‘Wabadumisi Abajabulayo’ ngo-August 1995, oFakazi bathola inkundla yezemidlalo enkulu enkabeni yeLuanda. Abazalwane bafaka amabhentshi amaningi amasha, bawapenda kabusha futhi balungisa amapayipi amanzi. Wawuzosabela kanjani umphakathi esimemweni sokuba uzothamela? Basabela ngobuningi! Ngempelasonto yokuqala, isixuku sagcwala nasebaleni okudlalelwa kulo ibhola saze sagcwalisa nayo yonke indawo engenawo umpheme. Izihambeli zajabula lapho zizwa ukuthi zazingu-40 035. Ngempelasonto elandelayo, kwafika abanye abangu-33 119. Kwabhapathizwa ingqikithi yabangu-1 089.

Njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babengaphansi kuka- 26 000 ezweni lonke, babevelaphi bonke laba bantu? Kwakungabase-Angola ababenesithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli esasifundiswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Intatheli yezindaba eLuanda yathi: “Kwenzeka umhlola lapha eCoqueiros Stadium. Kunabantu bazo zonke izigaba zomphakathi ababalelwa ku-60 000 abeze emhlanganweni wesigodi woFakazi BakaJehova. Kuyinto eyisimanga ngempela; amadoda, abesifazane, izingane nabantu asebekhulile babuthene ndawonye . . . balalele isikhuthazo sokudumisa uNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova.”

Labo ababona izihambeli zomhlangano zifika bahlatshwa umxhwele ukuthi nakuba zimpofu, zonke zazihlanzekile futhi zigezekile. Phakathi nesimiso, zonke zazilalelisisile. Kwakubonakala sengathi okuwukuphela kwabantu ababehambahamba kwakungabalindi ababebala abantu. Iphini likangqongqoshe kahulumeni elalikhona esimisweni sangeSonto ekuseni laphawula: “Yisimanga! Umehluko ongaka phakathi kwabantu abakule nkundla nalabo abangaphandle. Kungihlaba umxhwele ukuthi isimiso senu siwusizo kangaka. Siyanibongela!”

OFakazi base-Angola babeye bafunda ngemihlangano emikhulu yabantu bakaJehova kwezinye izindawo zomhlaba. Kodwa manje nabo babekowabo ezweni lakubo. Yeka isibusiso ngemva kweminyaka yokubekezelela izikhathi ezinzima kakhulu! Babengazi ukuthi benzenjani. Izinhliziyo zabo zazimbonga uJehova ngokubavumela ukuba babe ingxenye yomkhaya wakhe okhethekile emhlabeni kulesi sikhathi esivusa amadlingozi kangaka emlandweni wesintu.

I-Angola Iba Igatsha

Ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kwakwanda ngokushesha. Kusukela ngo-1994 kuya ku-1996, inani labamemezeli landa ngesilinganiso samaphesenti angu-14 unyaka ngamunye. Inani eliphakeme labamemezeli lafinyelela ku-28 969, kwathi inani lezifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ladlula ku-61 000. Ngesikhathi kubhaliswa ngokomthetho iNhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1992, kwakunamabandla angu-213; ngo-1996 ayesengu-405. Inani lababekhona eSikhumbuzweni elingu-108 394 ngalowo nyaka labonisa ukuthi kwakusazoba nokubuthwa kwabantu abaningi.

Ukushintsha ihhovisi laseLuanda libe igatsha kwakungakusheshisa ukusingathwa kwezidingo zendawo. Ngakho, ngo-September 1, 1996, ihhovisi legatsha laqala ukusebenza e-Angola. INdikimba Ebusayo yamisa abazalwane abathathu abase bekhonze ngokwethembeka ekomitini yakuleli zwe ukuba bakhe iKomiti Yegatsha: UJoão Mancoca, Domingos Mateus noSilvestre Simão. Kwakhethwa nezithunywa zevangeli ezimbili ukuba zikhonze kanye nabo: UJosé Casimiro noSteve Starycki.

Ukuze asize abazalwane balungele lolu shintsho, uDouglas Guest wasegatsheni lasePortugal, wavakashela e-Angola ngo-June 1996. Waxoxa nomkhaya waseBethel owawunamalungu angu-56 ngesidingo sokuba ubeke isibonelo esihle ezintweni zonke. Esimisweni esikhethekile sabadala namaphayona kanye nomkabo, abangu-5 260, bevela engxenyeni enkulu yeLuanda, kwaxoxwa namalungu eKomiti Yegatsha nabanye abazalwane asebekhulile, bekhumbula izinto ezivelele emlandweni wabantu bakaJehova e-Angola. UMfoweth’ uGuest waxoxa nabo ngesibindi esibangelwa ukwethembela kuJehova nokubheka kuye ukuze asinike amandla.

Ukwenza Iqiniso Litholakale Ngolimi Lwabo

IsAmbulo 7:9 sithi “isixuku esikhulu” sabantu ‘abaphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi’ sasiyokhulekela uJehova. Ngokuqinisekile ne-Angola ikhona kulesi siprofetho. E-Angola kukhulunywa izilimi ezinkulu ezingu-42 nezinye eziningi ezincane. Kuzo, isi-Umbundu, isiKimbundu nesiKikongo zisetshenziswa ezindaweni eziningi.

Eminyakeni eminingi edlule, emihlanganweni yebandla kwakuye kuhunyushwe ukwaziswa okufundwayo kususwe esiPutukezini kuyiswe olimini okungenani olulodwa lwendawo. Ukuze babe nezincwadi ezithi bona zokufunda, kwakudingeka abantu bafunde isiPutukezi, kodwa amathuba emfundo ayemancane kakhulu. Enye yezincwadi zokuqala ezatholakala ngesi-Umbundu kwakuyincwajana ethi “Lezi Zindaba Ezilungileyo ZoMbuso.” Ngo-1978 lapho omunye wabadala ethola ikhophi, wathi: “Ngale ncwajana yesi-Umbundu, kuzoba nabamemezeli abangaphezu kuka-300 eMoçâmedes [manje iNamibe]. Abantu abaningi kule ndawo bakhuluma futhi bafunda lolu limi. Yisibusiso sangempela lesi!” Leso sibusiso sibe sikhulu kangangokuba eNamibe manje kunabamemezeli abangu-1 362 emabandleni angu-21.

Kodwa kwakudingeka kwenziwe okwengeziwe ukuze kufinyelelwe izinhliziyo zabantu base-Angola ngokwenza izindaba ezinhle zitholakale ngezilimi zabo. Kwakudingeka kwakhiwe isisekelo soMnyango Wabahumushi ophelele. Kwathi bangabhaliswa ngokomthetho nje oFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1992, abahumushi abathathu bathunyelwa egatsheni laseNingizimu Afrika beyoqeqeshwa. Kwathengwa ama-computer. UKeith Wiggill nomkakhe, u-Evelyn, basuka eNingizimu Afrika bayonikeza usizo ekuhleleni lo mnyango omusha nasekusebenziseni izinhlelo zama-computer eNhlangano ezibizwa ngokuthi ama-Translation Tool.

Kwaqala ukuba kunyatheliswe izincwadi eziningi ngezilimi zendabuko. Ngesi-Umbundu kwanyatheliswa izincwajana ezinjengethi Jabulela Ukuphila Emhlabeni Phakade! nethi Ingabe UNkulunkulu Uyasikhathalela Ngempela? Zabe sezinyatheliswa ngesiKikongo nesiKimbundu, kanye nezinhlobonhlobo zamapheshana. Ngo-1996 incwadi ethi Ulwazi Oluholela Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade nencwajana ethi Yini UNkulunkulu Ayifunayo Kithi? zakhululwa ngazo zontathu izilimi. Umbonisi wesigodi wabika ukuthi kwelinye ibandla ayelikhonza, wasebenzisa intshumayelo elula kakhulu neshaya emhloleni futhi wakwazi ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-90 ngesonto elilodwa! Ngonyaka olandelayo inani lamabandla landa lisuka ku-478 laya ku-606.

Yeka isibusiso okwaba yiso ukuba abazalwane bakwazi ukuzwa nokufunda amaqiniso eBhayibheli ngolimi lwabo! Ngo-1998 kwaba nomhlangano wesigodi wokuqala ngesi-Umbundu eHuambo. Kwaba khona abangaphezu kuka-3 600. Ngezinhliziyo ezinokwazisa, izihambeli zomhlangano zezwakala zithi, “uJehova akasikhohliwe!” Ubufakazi baloko kukhathalela kothando baqina lapho INqabayokulinda isitholakala ngesi-Umbundu, kusukela ngeka-January 1, 1999.

Isidingo Esiphuthumayo SamaHholo OMbuso

Kwadlula iminyaka eminingi oFakazi BakaJehova bengakwazi ukuba namaHholo OMbuso e-Angola ngenxa yokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wabo. Kusukela ngo-1992, inani lamabandla eLuanda liye landa lisuka ku-147 laya ku-514. Ezweni lonke inani lamabandla lande ngamaphesenti angaphezu kuka-200, lafinyelela ku-696. Isilinganiso sababa khona emihlanganweni siphakathi kuka-200 no-400 emabandleni amaningi. Emihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu ngo-1998 kwabikwa ukuthi inani lababekhona laliliphinda kane elabamemezeli! Izindawo zokuhlanganyela ezifanelekayo zidingeka ngokushesha.

Idolobha laseLubango laba neHholo LoMbuso lokuqala ngo-1997, iLobito yaba nalo ngo-July 1998, kwathi iViana (eseningizimu nje yeLuanda) yaba nalo ngo-December 1999. Ngosizo lohlelo lomhlaba wonke lokwakha amaHholo OMbuso, kunentuthuko manje.

Sekuklanywe uhlaka lwensimbi oluqaqekayo noluvulekile emaceleni okuzokwakhiwa ngalo iHholo LoMbuso e-Angola. Kungani kungoluqaqekayo? Naphezu kwemizamo yokuthola itayitela elisemthethweni lesiza, kungase kufike othile ngisho sekwakhiwe athi indawo eyakhe. Leli Hholo LoMbuso liklanywe ngendlela yokuba liqaqwe uma kudingeka. Ngokuqondene nokuvuleka kwalo emaceleni, likahle kulesi simo sezulu esishisayo. Ngo-May ka-2000, kwafika izingxenye zokuqala esezakhiwe zalesi sakhiwo. Kunamahholo anhlobonhlobo angu-24 nje kuphela kuleli zwe, futhi eminyakeni ezayo emihlanu kuzodingeka amanye angu-355. Kwethenjwa ukuthi lokhu okwenziwayo manje kuzosiza ekuhlangabezaneni nalesi sidingo esiphuthumayo.

Ngaphandle komsebenzi wamaHholo OMbuso, kuhlelwa ukuba esikhathini esizayo kwakhiwe iHholo Lomhlangano elinohlaka lwensimbi, elingathatha abantu abangu-12 000.

Ukuhlonipha Ubungcwele Begazi

Ukuze kufezwe esinye isidingo, ngo-October 1996 iKomiti Yokubonisana Nezibhedlela ([Hospital Liaison Committee] HLC) eyakhiwa abadala abakhathalelayo abayishumi yaqala ukukhonza amabandla amaningi engxenyeni enkulu yeLuanda. OFakazi bendawo bakujabulela ukuba nabazalwane abaqeqeshwe kahle ukuze babasize bathole ukwelashwa okucabangela isifiso sabo ‘sokuyeka igazi.’—IzE. 15:28, 29.

Amathuluzi okwelapha ayesale ngesikhathi sempi ayengazange ngempela anakekelwe kusukela maphakathi nawo-1970. Imithi yayiyindlala. Ngaphansi kwalezi zimo ezinzima, ingabe odokotela babeyozimisela ukubambisana noFakazi BakaJehova ekusunguleni indlela yokuhlinza nokwelapha ngaphandle kwegazi? Ekuqaleni, odokotela abaningi nabaphathi bezibhedlela babenqaba noma bakuhlehlise ukubonana noFakazi. Kwabe sekuphakama isimo sezokwelapha esiphuthumayo.

Umzalwane wasesifundazweni saseMalanje wayiswa e-Américo Boavida Hospital eLuanda eyohlinzwa ukuze kukhishwe isimila esiswini. Ilungu le-HLC lahamba nomka lo mzalwane beyobonana nodokotela ohlinzayo. UDkt. Jaime de Abreu, udokotela ohlinzayo omkhulu kulesi sibhedlela, wabamukela lab’ oFakazi ababili. Bamangala lapho bethola ukuthi wayebajwayele oFakazi BakaJehova nokuma kwabo endabeni yegazi, futhi ngesikhathi eseholidini ePortugal wayezwile ngalolu hlelo olungalisebenzisi igazi.

Ngosizo lukaDkt. de Abreu, lo mzalwane wahlinzwa kahle ngaphandle kokufakwa igazi. Kamuva, abazalwane be-HLC bahlangana noDkt. de Abreu neqembu lakhe ukuze balinikeze ukwaziswa okwengeziwe. Manje odokotela abahlanu bayabambisana noFakazi ngokuhlonipha ukuma kwabo endabeni yegazi.

Izisebenzi Ezengeziwe Ekuvuneni

Kwathi kungasingathwa izidingo eziningi zokuhlela nezezincwadi, kwabe sekugxilwa esithakazelweni esikhulu esasiboniswa ensimini. Yeka ukuthi amazwi kaJesu asebenza kahle kanjani e-Angola: “Yebo, ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi zimbalwa!” (Math. 9:37) Imibiko yembula ukuthi kunenqwaba yamadolobha adinga usizo lokunakekela labo ababonisa isithakazelo eqinisweni.

Ngenxa yalokhu, iNhlangano yathumela ezinye izithunywa zevangeli ezingu-11 ukuba ziyosiza ‘ekuvuneni.’ Ezinye zathunyelwa emadolobheni asogwini iBenguela neNamibe. Kodwa uJehova uvuse izisebenzi eziningi kubo kanye abantu base-Angola. Phakathi neminyaka emihlanu nje edlule, kwabhapathizwa abantu abangu-21 839, babe sebehlangana nesixuku sabadumisi bakaJehova abazinikezele kuleli zwe.

Amehlo KaJehova Ayababona

Akwenzekanga ukuba abazalwane abangomakad’ ebona bathunyelwe kuzo zonke izindawo ezinabantu abanesithakazelo eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Uye waba yini umphumela? Kunikezwe ubufakazi obukhulu nakakhulu bokuthi umsebenzi uqondiswa umoya kaNkulunkulu, hhayi umuntu. (Zak. 4:6) Amehlo kaJehova akuzo zonke izinceku zakhe, kanye nabanye abafuna ngobuqotho ukwazi nokukhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso.—IHu. 65:2; IzAga 15:3.

Abanye abantu basesifundazweni saseKwanza Norte baya eLuanda beyolanda omagazini koFakazi ababebahambisa emgwaqweni. Ngemva kokubona izindaba ezinhle ezazikulab’ omagazini, laba bantu banquma ukuthi kufanele balandele isibonelo soFakazi eLuanda futhi bahambisele abanye omagazini. Baqonda nokuthi kufanele bahlangane ndawonye, ngakho indoda eyodwa kuleli qembu yenza konke eyayingakwenza ukuze iqhube imihlangano. Kodwa njengoba isigodi sakubo siqhelile, iziphathimandla zendawo zazingezwanga ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babebhaliswe ngokomthetho eminyakeni emithathu eyayandulele. Ngenxa yalokhu, laba bantu babengavunyelwe ukuhlangana obala. Abazange baphele amandla, bahlangana ehlathini.

Ekugcineni, ehhovisi laseLuanda kwezwakala ukuthi abantu baseQuilombo dos Dembos babefuna usizo lokumisa ibandla. Ngo-October 1997 kwathunyelwa umbonisi wesifunda kulesi sigodi futhi kwaba khona abangu-140 ekuhambeleni kwakhe. Njalo nje wayehamba ephethe amaphepha agunyaza iNhlangano YoFakazi BakaJehova, ngakho wakwazi ukunikeza iziphathimandla zendawo ubufakazi bokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bayinhlangano esebenza ngokusemthethweni. Leli qembu liyakujabulela ukuhlangana ndawonye obala, futhi manje linamaphayona asiza abantu abaningi abathakazelayo.

Ngo-1996, u-Ana Maria Filomena wazithola esesedolobheni elincane esifundazweni saseBié. Wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze asakaze izindaba ezinhle, futhi ngokushesha iqembu labantu abathakazelayo lase lihlangana isonto ngalinye lizoqhuba iSifundo Sencwadi nese-Nqabayokulinda. U-Ana Maria uyena owayeqhuba imihlangano ngoba kwakungekho mzalwane obhapathiziwe. Langa limbe watshelwa ukuthi kwakuzofika umkhuzi wezempi oyisikhulu emhlanganweni wabo wangeSonto, ukuze azibonele ukuthi kufundiswani. Wafika namasosha amabili. Kusobala ukuthi wakujabulela lokho akuzwa ngoba ngaphambi kokuba ahambe wathi, “Qhubekani nenza umsebenzi wenu ngokungesabi kule ndawo.” Lelo qembu elincane manje liyibandla elibizwa ngokuthi Umbundu Kuito-Bié Sul, linabamemezeli abangu-40 futhi esifundweni ngeSonto kuba khona abangu-150.

Ngenxa yokuthi kwase kuyiminyaka emibili amabandla asesifundazweni sase-Uíge engaxhumani nehhovisi, ayengakutholi ukudla okungokomoya ayekudinga. UFakazi walapho wachazela isihlobo sakhe esasisebenza ezindizeni ezazihamba njalo zithutha izimpahla ngale nkinga. Ngomusa lesi sihlobo sathi sizohambisa umbonisi wesifunda, iphayona elikhethekile nezincwadi ezingamakhilogremu angu-400 ngendiza eyayizolandela mahhala. Lapho laba bazalwane befika, bathola ibandla elalinakekela amaqembu angawodwa ayisihlanu. Iqembu ngalinye laliqhuba imihlangano kube nabantu abathakazelayo abangu-50 kuya ku-60.

Ekuqaleni kuka-1996 kuso lesi sifundazwe, umbonisi wesifunda wahambela ibandla elase lineminyaka engaphezu kwemine lingaxhumani nenhlangano. Watholani? Nakuba lalinabamemezeli abangu-75 kuphela, enkulumweni yakhe yeningi kwafika abangu-794! Kusobala ukuthi ukuhlala endaweni engaxhumani nenhlangano kwakungazange kuyidambise intshiseko yalaba bazalwane yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kwabanye.

Kwafika imibiko efanayo yesithakazelo esikhulu eqinisweni ivela endaweni yaseGabela, eningizimu yeLuanda. Iphayona lalapho liqhuba iZifundo Zencwadi Zebandla ezinhlanu—liqhuba esisodwa ubusuku ngabunye ngesonto. Nalo ‘lincenga iNkosi yokuvuna ukuba ithumele izisebenzi ezengeziwe.’—Math. 9:37, 38.

“Impi Ebanga Usizi Kunazo Zonke Namuhla”

Umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle kuyo yonke i-Angola umangalisa nakakhulu uma kucatshangelwa izimo zakuleli zwe. Umbiko weZizwe Ezihlangene wachaza impi yombango yase-Angola ngokuthi “impi ebanga usizi kunazo zonke namuhla.” Ngenxa yokuhlupheka kwabantu okuhilelekile, leyo ncazelo ayinakuphikiswa. Ngisho nalapho sekubekwe phansi izikhali, kwabikwa ukuthi kwakubulawa abantu abayinkulungwane ngosuku. Ngo-March 2000, i-New York Times yathi: “Impi yase-Angola, isizwe esinabantu abayizigidi ezingu-12, idlule nabantu abayisigidi, kanti abayizigidi ezintathu bayishiyile imizi yabo.”

Ngisho noma zonke izibhamu zingaphela, umphumela wempi uyosala. E-Angola kugcwele amabhomu agqitshwayo amaningi kunakunoma yiliphi izwe emhlabeni, futhi ngenxa yokuqhuma kwala mabhomu, inabantu abayizinkubela abalinganiselwa ku-70 000—inani eliphakeme kunawo wonke emhlabeni. Akukholeki ukuthi amaqembu alwayo asaqhubeka etshala la mabhomu. Lokhu kwenza abalimi bawashiye amasimu abo, okudala ukuntuleka kokudla okukhulu kakhulu.

Kulolu dlame, oFakazi BakaJehova nabo baye bathinteka. Esifundazweni saseKwanza Norte, oFakazi abane nomuntu othakazelayo bafa ngesikhathi amabutho kahulumeni edubulana neqembu eliphikisayo. Abanye bafe ezingozini ezidalwa amabhomu agqitshwayo nokuqhuma kwamabhomu ezimakethe. Ngo-1999, oFakazi abane balahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo ngesikhathi bezama ukuyisa ukudla nezinye izimpahla kwamanye amaKristu eHuambo. Siyajabula ngokuthi azizange zibe ningi izigigaba ezinjalo.

OFakazi BakaJehova kanye nabanye abantu baye bahlupheka kakhulu ngenxa yokuntuleka kokudla, izingubo nendawo yokuhlala. Ngesikhathi impi yombango idlanga ngo-1999, abantu abalinganiselwa ku-1 700 000, kuhlanganise noFakazi BakaJehova abaningi, baphoqeleka ukuba babaleke emizini yabo. Ngokuvamile, abantu ababalekela impi bahlala nezihlobo ezihlala emizini esuke isigcwele kakade. Nakuba babempintshekile bezama ukondla imikhaya yabo, abadala baqhubeka benakekela izidingo ezingokomoya zabafowabo. Amagama awakwazi ukuveza ukujula kokwazisa lab’ oFakazi abanakho ngamaKristu ase-Italy, ePortugal naseNingizimu Afrika aye athatha isinyathelo lapho ezwa ngosizi lwabo, anikela ngamabhokisi amaningi okudla, izingubo nemithi eyayidingeka kangaka.

Izibonelo Eziphilayo Zokholo

Njengoba nje endulo kwakusetshenziswa umlilo ovutha bhé ukuze kucwengisiswe igolide, novivinyo olukhuthazelelwa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu luveza ukholo olunesimo esivivinyiwe. (IzAga 17:3; 1 Pet. 1:6, 7) Izinkulungwane zoFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola, abasha nabadala, banokholo olunesimo esivivinywe kanjalo.

UCarlos Cadi, osenesikhathi eside eyisikhonzi, owafunda amaqiniso eBhayibheli ayigugu eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-50 kanye noJoão Mancoca eBelgian Congo, uyaphawula: “Ukuma kwabafowethu okubonisa isibindi nokuzimisela, kuhlanganise nabaningi abafa, kuye kwanikeza ubufakazi obunamandla. Lokhu akubangelwanga nje izenzo zabo kuphela kodwa nokukhuluma kwabo ngesibindi neziphathimandla eziningi.”

Omunye oye wanikeza ubufakazi obunjalo u-Antunes Tiago Paulo. Abantu ababefuna ukwephula ukungathathi hlangothi kwakhe kobuKristu bamphatha ngesihluku esikhulu. Sikhuluma nje ukhonza njengelungu lomkhaya waseBethel yase-Angola kanye nabanye abahlukunyezwa ngendlela efanayo: UJustino César, uDomingos Kambongolo, u-António Mufuma, uDavid Missi noMiguel Neto. U-Alfredo Chimbaia, owahlala iminyaka engaphezu kweyisithupha ejele, manje uyajikeleza kanye nomkakhe.

Udade othile wayebuka lapho umyeni wakhe ethathwa ngenkani emkhayeni wakhe futhi ebulawa isizwe esasilwa nesakubo. Waxwayiswa ngokuthi uma efuna ukuhlala ephila, kumelwe abalekele eDemocratic Republic of Congo. Kwadingeka ahambe ngezinyawo nezingane zakhe ezine aze afike lapho. Wahamba izinyanga eziyishumi. Engakaluqali uhambo, wayengazi ukuthi ukhulelwe, futhi wabeletha engakafiki eCongo. Ngokudabukisayo, ingane yashona. Wayethandaza njalo. Wathi uma ubhekene nesimo esinjena, ungazi ukuthi kufanele wenzeni, kumelwe uphonse umthwalo wakho phezu kukaJehova. (IHu. 55:22) Uma ungenzi kanjalo, uyoqhatha usizi bese uyabuza, “Kungani kwenzeka kimina, Jehova?” Lo dade wayebonga kakhulu ngokuthi wayephila kangangokuba lapho efika eKinshasa, wakhonza njengephayona elisizayo ngenyanga yokuqala afika ngayo.

“UNkulunkulu Akanamahloni Ngabo”

Okwashiwo umphostoli uPawulu ngamadoda nabesifazane bokholo endulo kuzichaza kahle izinceku zikaJehova e-Angola. Lokho akusho kungabekwa kanje: ‘Yikuphi okwengeziwe esingakusho? Ngoba isikhathi sizosishiya uma siqhubeka silandisa ngezibonelo zalabo abaphunyuka osikweni lwenkemba, besesimweni esibuthakathaka benziwa baba namandla, futhi bahlushwa ngoba abafunanga ukwamukela ukukhululwa ngesihlengo esithile. Bathola ukulingwa ngokuhlekwa insini nangokubhaxabulwa, impela, okungaphezu kwalokho, ngezibopho nangamatilongo. Baquliswa, baswela, baba sosizini, baphathwa kabi; futhi izwe lalingabafanele.’ (Heb. 11:32-38) Nakuba ababebashushisa babebeya, yize abaningi beswele ngenxa yempi nezinxushunxushu, “uNkulunkulu akanamahloni ngabo, ukubizwa ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu wabo,” ngoba amehlo abo bawagxilise ekugcwalisekeni kwezithembiso zakhe.—Heb. 11:16.

Yize besaqhubeka bezwa imiphumela emibi yabagibeli bamahhashi abanolaka be-Apocalypse, oFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola basibona kahle isibusiso sikaJehova. Phakathi nonyaka odlule, abamemezeli bakuleli zwe abangaphezu kuka-40 000 bachitha amahora angaphezu kuka-10 000 000 betshela abanye ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Inyanga ngayinye babematasa beqhubela abantu abathakazelayo izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ezingaphezu kuka-83 000. Isifiso esiqotho sabamemezeli boMbuso e-Angola ukuba basize abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ukuba bathole ithuba lokukhetha ukuphila kwangempela uNkulunkulu akwenza kutholakale ngoJesu Kristu. Futhi abeve bajabula lapho abangaphezu kuka-181 000 beba khona emkhosini waminyaka yonke weSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, naphezu kwezimo ezingazinzile kuleli zwe! Babona obuningi ubufakazi bokuthi amasimu asemhlophe ukuba avunwe.—Joh. 4:35.

Bekanye nabafowabo abangamaKristu emhlabeni wonke, oFakazi BakaJehova e-Angola bathembele ngokuphelele ekunqobeni kokugcina kweNkosi noMholi wabo osezulwini, uJesu Kristu. (IHu. 45:1-4; IsAm. 6:2) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babhekene naluphi uvivinyo, bazimisele ukuba yizinceku zakhe ezithembekile noFakazi abakholekile bakaNkulunkulu onothando, uJehova.—IHu. 45:17.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 68]

‘Yize isimo sethu esingokwenyama sisibi, siyaphila ngokomoya. Kwenzeka kona kanye lokhu okwabikezelwa eBhayibhelini.’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 73]

Batadisha iBhayibheli futhi baqala ukushumayela. Ngokushesha badingiselwa e-Angola.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 78]

“Okubi kakhulu ongakwenza ukungibulala. Kukhona okungaphezu kwalokho ongakwenza? Kodwa ngeke ngilulahle ukholo lwami.”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 82]

Wayeqiniseka ukuthi wayeselitholile iqiniso. Kodwa wayelazisa kangakanani?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 85]

Ejele babeshumayeza izindonga nganoma isiphi isihloko seBhayibheli ababesikhumbula.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 89]

Babezibona izimpawu zempi, kodwa baqhubeka nenkonzo yabo.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 91]

Abelusi abangamaKristu babebahambela njalo abazalwane lapho beya emsebenzini noma bebuya khona. Ngokuvamile babeye bafunde imibhalo embalwa nomkhaya ababewuhambele.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 96]

“Kulungile, ngizosho mina ngithi ‘Viva [mana njalo]!’” Wonke umuntu wavula izindlebe. Lo mfana omncane wabe esememeza ethi “Viva Jehova!”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 103]

“Ngashiya i-Angola ngithandaza enhliziyweni yami futhi nginezinyembezi emehlweni ngenxa yalaba bazalwane okwakuthi nakuba behlupheka, bebe bemoyizela ngenxa yethemba elihle abanalo.”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 108]

“Wayebeka izinkulumo izikhathi ezingu-7 kuya kwezi- ngu-21. Umsebenzi wesonto wawumningi futhi unzima.”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 111]

Kulo mphakathi wezinzalamizi, wayebhekwa njengenhloko. Waziwa ngokuthi umuntu kaNkulunkulu.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 116]

Lapho becindezelelwa ukuba bayeke ukungathathi hlangothi kwabo kobuKristu, bazibonakalisa beqinile esinqumweni sabo sokuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 124]

“Sasingeve simbonga uJehova, inhlangano yakhe nabafowethu abathandekayo abafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ngenxa yabazalwane ababengabazi nakubazi!”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 128]

Umphakathi wawukubona ukungathathi hlangothi okuqinile koFakazi BakaJehova.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 138]

Kunamabandla angu-696 kodwa amaHholo OMbuso angu-24 nje kuphela.

[Ibalazwe/Izithombe ekhasini 81]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Atlantic Ocean

DEM. REP. OF CONGO

ANGOLA

Luanda

Malanje

Lobito

Benguela

Huambo

Lubango

Namibe

Baía dos Tigres

NAMIBIA

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 66]

[Izithombe ekhasini 71]

UGray no-Olga Smith

[Isithombe ekhasini 74]

UJohn Cooke (phakathi) enoJoão Mancoca (kwesokudla) noSala Filemon (kwesobunxele), abaphakathi kwabokuqala abakumela ngokuqinile ukukhulekela kweqiniso e-Angola

[Isithombe ekhasini 87]

Umhlangano owaba ngesikhashana senkululeko ngo-1975

[Isithombe ekhasini 90]

Izwe elidwengulwe yimpi

[Izithombe ekhasini 102]

“Ikhishi” okwakulungiselwa kulo ukudla okungokomoya

[Isithombe ekhasini 104]

USilvestre Simão

[Izithombe ekhasini 123]

Kulayishwa izimpahla zosizo zase-Angola eNingizimu Afrika

[Isithombe ekhasini 126]

Ngenhla: Umhlangano okhethekile wabadala namaphayona avamile eLuanda

[Isithombe ekhasini 126]

UDouglas Guest (kwesobunxele) e-Angola ngo-1991, unoJoão noMaria Mancoca noMário Oliveira

[Isithombe ekhasini 131]

Ihhovisi lokuqala elalisetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova eLuanda

[Izithombe ekhasini 134]

UMhlangano Wesigodi ‘Wabadumisi Abajabulayo’ owawuhanjelwe abantu abangu-73 154 eLuanda

[Isithombe ekhasini 139]

Isakhiwo esinophahla lwensimbi esingelinye lamaHholo OMbuso angu-24 e-Angola

[Isithombe ekhasini 140]

IKomiti Yegatsha (kusukela kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla): UJoão Mancoca, Steve Starycki, Silvestre Simão, Domingos Mateus noJosé Casimiro

[Isithombe ekhasini 140, 141]

Umkhaya waseBethel yase-Angola ngo-1996 ngesikhathi kumiswa igatsha

[Izithombe ekhasini 142]

Amalungu ambalwa kwamaningi omkhaya waseBethel abonisa ukholo lwawo lapho ehlukunyezwa: (1) U-Antunes Tiago Paulo, (2) UDomingos Kambongolo, (3) UJustino César

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

UCarlos Cadi