Shona

Made etsvimborume okudya yakawaridzwa

The bachelor’s yearning is to eat with his bed spread

Tsanagudzo

Munhu asina mukadzi anogadzirisa zvinhu zvake kuitira kuti kana ozoroora anenge akagadzirisa zvinhu zvose. Vanhu vanokwanisa kunyengedza vamwe kuti varege kuita basa ravanenge vachifanira kuita ivo vachiziva kuti vakatopedza pavo.

What the Words Say

The bachelor’s yearning is to eat with his bed spread

What It Means

Self-interest necessitates preparation. People may fool you into ignoring your duties when they have already completed theirs.

Cultural Context

The proverb used the imagery of the advanced bachelor who prepares his home and belongings and keeps them well in order so that when he marries, his wife does not struggle to domesticate him. Hence the first and obvious meaning behind the proverb is that when one has an interest in something they are bound to do the necessary preparations. The proverb also has a secondary meaning in that such a bachelor is prone to dupe others not to do the same while he has already prepared his home. This helps him with a competitive advantage for his interest. Hence our ancestors were also trying to teach us that sometimes people will deceive you to delay in your tasks when they have completed theirs thereby getting a competitive advantage over you.

How It's Used

The proverb is used to advise people to prepare in advance for the things they most desire. It is also a comment on people who are skillful at deviating other from tasks that they have already completed.