Rume rimwe harikombi churu
One man cannot surround an ant-hill
Tsanagudzo
Hazvinei kuti wakasimba sei kana kuti une njere dzakadii, zvimwe zvinhu zvinoda kubatsirana.
What the Words Say
One man cannot surround an ant-hill
What It Means
Regardless of your strength or intelligence, you cannot accomplish everything on your own. No man is an island.
Cultural Context
The proverb uses the act of a man who attempts to do a task around an ant hill which could be either to seek out termites, catch termite alate or even to kill a snake. Surrounding the ant hill would ensure that there is no escape for these creatures and increase the chances of succeeding but it is impossible for one person to surround the ant-hill. The key element of this however is not purely the strength in numbers but the fact that when you surround the ant-hill, there would have to be a discussion and sharing of ideas on how to tackle the task ahead. In this way our elders were teaching us the importance of cooperation and seeking assistance and advise in the work we do.
How It's Used
This proverb is used to counsel someone who has failed to accomplish a task single handedly on the benefits of seeking advice and assistance from others. It can also be used to prevent someone from making the mistake of tackling a task that requires others to assist.