Audio Story by Simon Machozi

English Translation

This disease was a bad one because I can say it killed a lot of people, especially the ones who were coughing [a lot]. I was also among people who were coughing. I had to use traditional medicine to treat this COVID and after some time it went away. What I also know is that there was a time when people came knocking at our door and the question they would ask is whether there is anybody who is sick with COVID in the house and we always told them no. These people also came into the house, talked to us and asked questions and then left. What I also know is that COVID killed a lot of people including a family friend that I knew so well. The other thing is that I am not so sure if this disease called Corona is finished or gone. I’m still not certain.

Swahili Transcription

Ugonjwa huu ulikuwa mbaya kwa sababu naweza kusema uliua watu wengi hasa waliokuwa wakikohoa. Pia nilikuwa miongoni mwa watu waliokuwa wakikohoa. Ilinibidi nitumie dawa za kitamaduni kutibu COVID na baada ya muda iliisha. Ninachojua pia ni kwamba kuna wakati watu walikuja kugonga mlango wetu na swali ambalo wangeuliza ni ikiwa kuna mtu yeyote ambaye ni mgonjwa na COVID ndani ya nyumba na tuliwaambia hapana. Watu hawa nao waliingia ndani ya nyumba hiyo, wakazungumza nasi na kutuuliza maswali kisha wakaondoka. Ninachojua pia ni kwamba COVID iliua watu wengi akiwemo rafiki wa familia ambaye nilijua vizuri. Jambo lingine ni kwamba sina uhakika kama ugonjwa huu uitwao Corona umeisha au umeisha. Bado sina uhakika.