Mukuru mukuru hanga haigari pfunde

Munhu mukuru anofanira kukudzwa nguva dzose kunyangwe oshaya simba kana kuve munhu asina zvaanazvo. Munhu mukuru haafanire kuita zvinhu zvisingaenderane nehukuru hwake.

An elder person (or a leader) is considered elderly (or of leadership reverence), a guinea-fowl does not perch on the sorghum plant

Elders and leaders must be respected at all times even if they lack strength, wealth or display a degree of ignorance. There are limits to everything and elders and leaders should not do things that are unbecoming of their stature.

Birds are very fond of perching on plants in the field because some of these plants provide both a perching spot and seeds for consumption. Further more, from that position they can easily see other seeds or plants that they can consume or identify imminent threat and flee easily. The sorghum is one of those plants that birds love to perch on. However certain birds are too big to balance on the sorghum because it is quite thin and fragile. The guinea-fowl is certainly too heavy to perch on a sorghum plant - this is best left to the smaller birds. Hence our elders were teaching that like the guinea fowl that is too “big” a bird to perch on a sorghum, elders and leaders must not engage in acts that are unbecoming of their stature. With this same example the elders were also saying that regardless of what imperfections the guinea fowl may have it is still respected because unlike the other birds it cannot perch on the sorghum plant. Hence the proverb is double edged - leaders must be respected always and they must respect their roles and positions always.

The proverb is used in two ways. One way is to remind the young or followers to accord the elders or leaders the respect they deserve regardless of what afflictions they may be facing. It is also used to remind the elder or leader to not bring themselves to the levels of the young or their followers and maintain a dignified and respectful disposition.