ï»¿Mbweha na  Sungura  

Hapo zamani za kale, kulikuwa na  Mbweha aliyekuwa na njaa.  Alijaribu kumshika panya, lakini panya  alitoroka.  
Alijaribu kumfukuza kichakuro, lakini  kichakuro pia alikimbia na kupanda  juu ya mti.  Kisha Mbweha akamwona panya  mdogo aliyenona. Akawaza, "Huyu  anafaa kuliwa." Panya alipomwona  Mbweha, alikimbilia chini ya jiwe,  akaruka shimoni mwake.  Mbweha akawaza, "Ni lazima  nichimbe nikamtoe panya huyu  shimoni."  
Mbweha alikimbilia chini ya jiwe hilo  kubwa akaanza kuchimba. Alichimba  ndani zaidi hata jiwe likamwangukia  mguuni.  Alishindwa kuutoa mguu wake chini ya  jiwe. Akapiga mayowe, "Nimenaswa!  Nisaidie! Nisaidie!"  
Sungura alipomsikia Mbweha akilia,  alikimbia na kumwuliza, "Una nini?"  Mbweha akamjibu, "Nilikuwa  nikiwinda panya kisha jiwe  likaniangukia mguuni. Tafadhali  mpendwa Sungura, nisaidie!"  
Sungura alimjibu, "Mmmh!  Ningependa sana kukusaidia lakini,  mimi ni mdogo na hafifu na jiwe hili ni  kubwa. Itakuwa vigumu kwangu. Je,  utanipa nini nikikusaidia?"  Mbweha alilia aksema, "Jioni  nitakupikia mlo uupendao. Utakula  chakula kitamu kuliko vyote duniani."  Sungura alimjibu, "Sawa, nitajaribu  kukusaidia."  
Sungura alilisukuma jiwe, lakini,  halikusonga hata kidogo.  Akalisukuma tena na tena hadi  likauondokea mguu wa Mbweha.  Sungura akafurahi.  
Sungura akasema, "Nipe zawadi  yangu."  Mbweha akamwuliza, "Zawadi gani?  Umenona na unatamanika."  Sungura akamwuliza, "Si  nimekusaidia? Wawezaje kutaka  kunila?"  Mbweha akajibu, "Mbweha hula  sungura. Usibishane nami."  Sungura akasema, "Hiyo si haki.  Tuwatafute wazee watupe mawaidha  yao."  
Sungura na Mbweha walimpata mzee  mmoja.  Sungura akasema, "Tafadhali tusaidie.  Mbweha anataka kunila ilhali  niliyaokoa maisha yake. Jiwe lilikuwa  limemwangukia mguuni na  hangeweza kujitoa. Aliniahidi chakula  kitamu cha jioni. Nami nikalisukuma  jiwe na kuliondoa mguuni pake. Sasa  ameisahau ahadi yake."  
"Si sawa. Mbweha, kwani huna  shukurani? Mwache Sungura aende  zake," Mzee alinena.  Mbweha alikifungua kinywa chake  akamwonyesha Mzee meno yake  marefu na makali. Kisha akasema,  "Hapana! Sitamwachilia aende. Na  usijaribu kunizuia au nitakukula wewe  pia."  
Mzee aliogopa sana akasema,  "Tafadhali usinile. Labda, nimefanya  uamuzi usio sawa. Unayoyasema ni  kweli. Siwezi kuamua ilhali sikuliona  jiwe. Je, ni nini hasa kilichofanyika?"  
"Hilo ni jambo rahisi. Twende  nikuonyeshe," Mbweha akasema.  Mzee alikwenda pamoja na Mbweha  na Sungura kuliona jiwe. Kisha  akamwuliza Mbweha, "Kwani ulikuwa  unafanya nini?"  
Mbweha akaeleza, "Panya niliyekuwa  nikimwinda alitorokea shimoni.  Nilipokuwa nikilichimba shimo hilo,  jiwe liliniangukia mguuni."  "Jiwe gani?" Mzee akauliza. "Jiwe hili,"  Mbweha akajibu.  "Wewe ulikuwa wapi?" Mzee akauliza.  "Nilikuwa hapa," Mbweha akasema  huku akijilaza chini.  
Mzee alimtazama Sungura kisha  akasema, "Wewe ni Sungura mdogo tu  na hafifu. Siamini kuwa uliweza  kulisongeza jiwe kubwa kama hili."  "Lakini nililisongeza!" Sungura alilia.  "Hebu nionyeshe," Mzee akasema.  
Sungura alisukuma akasukuma. Jiwe  likaungukia mguu wa Mbweha tena.  Mzee akauliza, "Hivi ndivyo  ulivyompata Mbweha?"  Sungura akaitikia kwa kichwa.  
Mzee akamwuliza Mbweha, "Je,  Sungura alikupata katika hali hii?"  Mbweha aliitikia kwa kichwa.  Mzee akasema, "Vizuri. Hii ndiyo haki.  Sungura, kimbia nenda zako  nyumbani. Nami pia ninakwenda  nyumbani."  
Basi, Mzee na Sungura wakaondoka.  Wakamwacha Mbweha asiye na  shukrani peke yake.  

You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:  Mbweha na Sungura  Author - Mohammed Kuyu and Elizabeth Laird  Translation - Susan Kavaya  Illustration - Jacob Kono  Language - Kiswahili  Level - Longer paragraphs  Â© African Storybook Initiative 2016  Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0  Source www.africanstorybook.org  Original source www.ethiopianfolktales.com 

Question: Mbweha alijaribu kumshika nani
Answer: Panya