Dindingwe rinofara richakweva rimwe kana rave iro roti mavara azere ‘vhu; Dindingwe rinonaka richakweva iro kana rokwehwa roti, ‘mavara angu azara ivhu'
The cheetah enjoys dragging its prey, but if it were dragged, it would protest that “my lovely spots are covered in soil”
Tsanagudzo
Vamwe vunhu vanofarira kuitira vamwe zvakaipa asi kana ivo voitirwa vanotsamwa.
What the Words Say
The cheetah enjoys dragging its prey, but if it were dragged, it would protest that “my lovely spots are covered in soil”
What It Means
One is satisfied with a situation that favours them, yet if it goes against them, then they cry foul. One often objects to the kind of treatment which they mete out on others.
Cultural Context
The cheetah with its beautiful spots, remains a dangerous carnivore that hunts antelope and other animals for food. Once it chases down and catches its prey, it drags the prey when to a safe location for consumption. However if the cheetah were to be dragged in the same way, it is assumed that the cheetah would object and remonstrate on the effects of such actions on its beautiful fur. It is this hypocrisy that our elders were drawing our attention to. The observation is that those who mistreat others usually find the same treatment unbearable. It is a creative lesson on treating others in the manner that we wish to me treated.
How It's Used
The proverb is used to highlight hypocrisy where one protests against being treated in the way they treat others. It is a jocular but effective way of bringing to attention the double standards displayed by someone.