Chakakodza bere mapfupa ; Chakakodza nguruve mashamba

Chimwe chinhu chinonzi nemumwe munhu ndechenhando chinokwanisa kubatsira kana kudiwa kwazvo nemumwe.

What made the hyena fat are bones. What made the pig fat are pumpkins

While one may not see value in something, others may benefit from it and even favor that which has been rejected by others. A similar but not exact match in english is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

The hyena is a primal scavenger that feasts on bones if it has to after the major predators have deserted the prey. Others may see bones as too tough to eat or lacking the luscious meat they may crave. Similarly with pigs, others may dismiss the pigs love for pumpkins in preference for other foods. However it is very rare to see a skinny pig or hyena. Hence our elders sought to advise that we should not be dismissive of others desires and preferences because they may actually be good for them. In this proverb it is not merely what one prefers but the fact that something can actually benefit someone else while others discard it.

The proverb is use to caution against dismissing something simply because one has no use or see no use in it. It is useful in reminding people that some things may not be for them but still have great value for others. It is also instructive more directly for those who look down at what others eat or how they consume it.