Ashunya arwa; Atswinya arwa
One who has pinched has fought.
Tsanagudzo
Zvishoma zvinenge zvaita zvinokunda kusaita zvachose.
What the Words Say
One who has pinched has fought.
What It Means
Every little contribution counts as opposed to doing nothing.
Cultural Context
The Karanga culture is strong on respect for any work done or any contributions to a noble cause. This respect also appears as a strong sense of defiance which meant that one was always encouraged to attempt something and not submit to an insurmountable task or battle without at least putting up a fight. So strong is this notion that our ancestors formulated this proverb expressing that If one so much as pinches, they must be considered to have fought. Hence the critical tenet is for one to have a fighting spirit and should not admit defeat without at least showing even the simplest form of defiance. Defeat is not embarrassing but no show of defiance was considered dishonorable.
How It's Used
The proverb is used to encourage those who may feel overwhelmed by a challenge or defeated after exerting some effort in a task by reminding them that any effort still counts as a contribution. It is also used to console those who may feel defeated after putting up a fight.