Kutumira bete kumukaka haridzoki
A cockroach sent to (fetch) milk will never return.
Tsanagudzo
Munhu akashanda kana kutumwa kunzvimbo inenge izere miyedzo inogona kumukanganisa zvinoita kuti asabudirira pabasa racho.
What the Words Say
A cockroach sent to (fetch) milk will never return.
What It Means
One asked to do something they greatly enjoy, or to perform a task filled with their temptations or interest, may easily be sidetracked and fail to complete the task. Pleasurable responsibilities result in neglect of certain duties.
Cultural Context
Cockroaches have always been seen as a nuisance that follow the path of bits of food left behind. They were known to love milk as seen by the many times they were found drowned in the milk pot. Hence it was observed that if a cockroach was sent to fetch milk, it would be unable to return because it would have drowned in one of its greatest delight. In this example our elders realized the importance of ensuring the when one apportions tasks they bear in mind that people are not put in the path or temptation or sent on missions that are intertwined with their other interests.
How It's Used
The proverb is used to dissuade blind allocation of duties and warning that giving people tasks that intermingled with their temptations or interests endangers the performance of the task.