Do not rely on communal /community property
Source: Tales of the Animal World.
wooli = wealth; property; money.
Wolinyama = all animals; the Animal World.
Kite-kite = the month of April.
e-Fimba Meya = the month of May.
Veyale = the month of July.
Muuli me Sali = the month of December.
Yasi nanu: During a dry season the Supreme National Council of Wolinyama decided merge all privately-owned farms into one large community farm where everyone would plant crops. Access to the farm would be free, and individuals would harvest freely.
Nyame opposed the decision on grounds that: "gbwasu-gbwasu ase-nje foni wooli; wooli gbwasu ase-nje wooli" (One cannot rely on community property).
Ikule envisaged administrative difficulties in running the farm and predicted that serious problems would emerge during harvest seasons. In his view a community farm was doomed to failure and disappointment. He urged that every citizen aught to acquire and own private property to be controlled by himself.
Wolinyama were not prepared to listen to Ikule's point of view. They heckled Ikule and proclaimed:
"We are tired of your advice. Don't attempt to divide us, we the descendants of Nyama Wanga Likomba la Wanga. We are one and will continue to remain one. National unity cannot be guaranteed in a system of private ownership. We must maintain one farm only to serve all of us. A community farm would be a symbol of national unity."
Ikule stuck to his guns and proposed further:
"The community should limit itself to offering assistance where necessary to any citizen who showed seriousness to own a farm/farms. Thereafter, the community would withdraw from the farm, and leave the individual to freely manage his farm."
In response Wolinyama said "No".
Work on the community farm began in the month of "Muuli me Sali" (December). By the middle of the month of "Etoma Matiya" (March) crops were already planted on some sections of the farm. Planting was completed by the end of the month of "Kite-Kite, va tiya ve mbgwe-ya" (April).
By the end of the month of "e-Fimba meya" (May) difficulties in operating the farm started to emerge. A timetable assigning groups to maintain the farm in rotation was drawn up, but it was not respected. By the end of the month of "Veyale" (July) weeds in the farm had grown taller than the crops, resulting in a poor harvest.
Scramble for harvesting of food resulted in daily physical fights. The farm was looted, but was not maintained. Soon, there was no longer food in the farm to be harvested. Enthusiasm on the idea of community ownership of the grand national farm waned fast. Consequently, the majority of citizens withdrew from the farm, and quietly returned to private ownership of farms. By the end of the rainy season ("e-fufa") the community farm was completely abandoned and ceased to be a matter of public interest.
Events had now vindicated Ikula Nyama's opposition to community ownership or property. "gbwasu-gbwasu ase-nje wooli".
Ikule then recalled to Wolinyama the Isume/Nalionge dispute. When Isume showed interest to own a female "ngowa" his friend Nalonge advised:
"Why do you worry yourself to rear a ngowa when I already own a ngowa that has eleven babies. I suggest that you and I should concentrate on the maintainance of the "ngowa" already in my possession. My "ngowa" is your "ngowa" - our "ngowa".
Nalionge and Isume then maintained the "ngowa" and its eleven babies. Nalionge disposed of the babies of the 'ngowa" without rewarding Isume for the assistance Issume rendered in the maintainance of the Ngowa. When a dispute ensured Nalionge boldly told Isume:
"na wongo-wa ndi "i-ngowa" jami imba-mbitii.
osa no ngowana liwongo la ngowa.
owa oma ovi ligwo-ngowa "ngowa" mande-nga te
owa osa-veni "ngowa".
(I maintain my "ngowa" alone without assistance from you.
If you claim to know how to rear "ngowa" why don't you own a "ngowa"?
Naloinge's response surprised Isume: Nanu ndi ese eveli: Gwasu, gbwasu ase-nje wooli.
At the beginning of the new dry season there were no calls for rehabilitating the grand national community farm or starting work on on a new community farm. Every one was instead busy with his/her private farm.
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