Zulu Lesson Bribery

Bribe is fumbatha in Zulu. Bribing immigration officials, police, workers counting election votes, teachers, coaches, referees, senators, competition judges, you name it. Be careful. It might be common place where you were born, but a criminal offence in your new country. Fumbatha literally means putting something like money, in somebody’s fist.

Fum-ba-tha. You say the first part like fumigate, the second like bus and the third part like tally. It’s important that nobody knows what is inside the fist. It should not also fall. Bribery is highly sophisticated in closed circles like Wall Street. It’s only circle members who know what it looks like.

We are in the digital age, so fumbatha happens electronically, straight into your bank account. Just bear it in mind that the government can go into your account, in case of fraud. There’s a thin line between blackmail and bribery.

ZULU	ENGLISH
U-George wa-fumbatha.	George was bribed.
Baya-fumbatha kwi-boxing.	There’s bribery in boxing.
Baya-fumbatha e-bholeni.	There’s bribery in soccer.
Akanqeni uku-fumbatha.	He has no qualms about accepting bribes.
Fumbath la, ingane yami iwine.	Hold this in your fist. My kid must win.
Nga-fumbatha. Angi-namali.	I took the bribe. I’m broke.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.