Kwa upande mmoja, tutazibua mtaro; kwa upande mwingine, tunahitaji muda.

It means on the one hand ... on the other hand ....

Literally, upande means side, so the image is on one side ... on the other side. In practice, though, this is a common idiomatic way to present two contrasting points.

Kwa is a preposition. In this expression, it helps create the sense of from the side of / from the perspective of / on the side of.

So while a word-for-word translation may feel awkward, it is best to learn kwa upande mmoja and kwa upande mwingine as set expressions.

• mmoja = one
• mwingine = the other / another

So:

• kwa upande mmoja = on one side / on the one hand
• kwa upande mwingine = on the other side / on the other hand

They match upande in agreement, which is why you see the m- form.

Tutazibua can be broken down like this:

• tu- = we
• -ta- = future tense
• -zibua = open up, unblock, clear out

So tutazibua means we will clear/open/unblock.

The dictionary form is kuzibua.

Because Swahili usually shows the subject inside the verb itself.

Here, tu- already means we, so tutazibua and tunahitaji already include the subject. You only add sisi if you want special emphasis, such as we, specifically.

Because the object is stated clearly after the verb: mtaro.

So tutazibua mtaro is simply we will clear the trench. Swahili does not have to include an object marker when the noun is said explicitly. An object marker is more likely when referring back to something already known from context.

Mtaro is a noun meaning trench, ditch, or drainage channel, depending on context.

In this sentence, it is the direct object of tutazibua. The word order is straightforward:

• tutazibua mtaro = we will clear/unblock the trench

Also, Swahili has no words for a/an/the, so mtaro can mean a trench or the trench, depending on context.

Tunahitaji comes from kuhitaji, meaning to need.

It breaks down like this:

• tu- = we
• -na- = present tense
• -hitaji = need

So tunahitaji means we need.

Because the sentence is contrasting:

• a future action: we will clear the trench
• a present need: we need time

So the idea is something like: Yes, we will do it, but right now time is needed.

If you wanted the second clause to be future too, you could say tutahitaji muda = we will need time.

Muda means time.

In a sentence like this, it usually means some time, enough time, or a period of time. Since Swahili has no articles, muda does not need a separate word for the or some.

The semicolon separates two closely related clauses that contrast with each other.

It works a lot like English punctuation in a sentence such as:

• On the one hand, we will clear the trench; on the other hand, we need time.

In Swahili writing, a comma or full stop could also be used in some contexts. The semicolon just makes the contrast especially clear and neat.

No. It is not necessary here.

The contrast is already expressed by:

• kwa upande mmoja = on the one hand
• kwa upande mwingine = on the other hand

Because those phrases already signal contrast, adding lakini would often be unnecessary.