Lapho Izinkomo Zindiza Khona

IZIPHEPHO ezinonya zaseziQhingini zaseShetland zaqala ukuqashelwa izwe ngo-January 5, 1993. Zaphephula umkhumbi kawoyela i-Braer onobude obungamamitha angu-243, amathani angu-45 000, zawuphahlaza ogwini oluyidwala lwasenyakatho yeScotland. Phakathi nesonto elilodwa nje lesiphepho namagagasi sase siwuvithize waba izicucu ezine lomkhumbi omkhulu.

Iziphepho ezivunguzayo aziyona into entsha kubantu baseShetland. Leliqoqo leziqhingi eziyikhulu ezisemajukujukwini, ezingaphansi kuka-20 zazo ezihlala abantu, zichayeke ezivunguvungwini ezinamandla ezibandayo ezivunguza ngokukhululekile zinqamula ulwandle eduze kwase-Iceland.

Akumangalisi ukuthi izakhamuzi zakhona zijwayelene nemibukwane eyinqaba. Indoda ethile, eyacashunwa kuyi-Wall Street Journal, yathi: “Mhlawumbe kufanele kube nezimpawu zomgwaqo eShetland ezithi: Qaphela izinkomo ezindizayo.” Eminyakeni embalwa edlule inkomo yothile ajwayelene naye yaphephuka ngokuphelele edlelweni. Esinye isakhamuzi, esingusosayensi, sabika ukuthi sabona ikati esilifuyile “lindiza” emoyeni amamitha ayisihlanu—njengokulindelekile, njalo lifike lithi cababa ngemilenze yalo. Ngokuvamile abashayeli balayisha izinto ezisindayo ezimotweni zabo, njengamalahle, ukuze bazivikele zingaphephuki emigwaqweni. Nabantu imbala baye baphephuka, abanye bafa ngisho nokufa. Esinye isiphepho, esabulala owesifazane, safinyelela isilinganiso sejubane esingaqashelwa ngokomthetho esingamakhilomitha angu-323 ngehora—asiqashelwa ngokomthetho phela ngoba into yokulinganisa ijubane lomoya engokomthetho yaphephuka kulesosiphepho!