Usapedzera tsvimbo kuna vanamakuwe idzo hanga dzichauya; Usapedzere tsvimbo kumakunguwo hanga dzichauya

Usapedze nguva, masimba uye nezvinhu zvako pazvinhu zvenhando.

Do not use up sticks on go-away birds when the guinea-fowls are yet to come; Do not waste your sticks on crows when the guinea-fowls are yet to come.

One must not waste their time and resources on trivialities.

Go-away birds and crows are a nuisance to all farmers and hunters. Go-away birds seem to always alert prey of potential danger in such an effective way that they could easily qualify as the snitch bird! In fact the sound they make was said to mean "kure!" - to alert prey to go far away at the opportune time for the predator. Crows on the other hand usually seek the same food as guinea fowl hence can be found in the same places as guinea-fowl would be found. However if one is hunting guinea fowl, one must not be distracted by Go-away birds or crows to the extent that they use the resources they were supposed to use for the guinea fowl. The guinea fowl is the prime meat while crows are not even eaten hence one must not be left with nothing to hunt the real meat. One must focus on their primary hunt. In this our elders realized the vanity of using up one's resources on trivialities when the real issues are yet to be addressed. Everyone needs to focus on the major and real issues and give those the necessary attention and respect they deserve. There is no solace in succeeding in smaller issues while missing out the important issues.

The proverb is used to warn against unstrategic and uncalculated use of resources over a shrewd and tactical application of given resources. It is also advice that can be used retrospectively to lament the pre-occupation on trivialities when the major prize has been lost.