Manga chena inoparira parere nhema

Chivi chimwe kana mhosva imwe chete inokwevera kuti zvimwe zvivi kana dzimwe mhosva dzakahwanda dzibude pachena. Munhu asina mhosva kana achiwanzo gara kana kufamba nevanhu vanopara mhosva, anowanzopomerwawo mhosva.

The white pumpkin led to the exposure of the black pumpkin

One vice leads to the exposure of other vices. One’s company or acquaintances can lead to them being associated with their acquaintance’s traits and/or vices.

Pumpkins appear in various colours though their leaves are generally a slightly dark green colour. It is common to hide or find a pumpkin hidden under the leaves. As such the darker pumpkins are easier to hide than the white pumpkin. Hence our elders observed that the white pumpkin will always reveal the presence of other pumpkins. And in this imagery they formed the lesson that some vices are revealed through the exposure of one visible and mostly less grave a vice. Similarly this also taught us that the company we keep may lead to us being recognized by that company’s traits or vices. In this way it can be interpreted also as the one in hiding is often betrayed by those milling around the hideout.

The proverb is used to show linkage of one thing to another, particularly in relation to negative traits. It is especially useful to refer to a criminal who may have been eluding arrest by showing that one crime or vice has led to the exposure of other crimes or vices. The linkages can also be based on personal association where one’s company can lead to one being associated with similar vices.

number 21