Majichimbochimbo anofara musi wafa kondo ziso / Zviururwi zvinofara kana kondo afa ziso

Vanhu vanorarama upenyu hwekushungurudzwa vanowana rufaro kana vanovashungurudza vasipo kana kuti vasisakwanise kuvashungurudza

Small frogs rejoice when the hammer-head bird has lost one eye.

People who are victimized or terrorized celebrate times when the tormentor is either absent or indisposed. When the cat is away, the mice come out to play

The hammer-head bird particularly preys on small frogs which are at a great disadvantage when the bird wades in the waters picking them out one by one until it is satisfied. The proverb simply highlights the joy of the small frogs the day the hammer-head bird loses or has a problem with one eye as this will obviously restrict its ability to pick out the small frogs. It is this casualty for the hammer-head, while not being a consequence of the frog’s action, which is undoubtedly a blessing for the small frogs.

The proverb can be applied in any scenario where the absence of or the restrictions to a tormentor grant some relief to those who were victims of such torment. It can also be applied in a situation where someone of authority is away and there is some freedom (rightly or wrongly) to act outside the authority of that person by taking advantage of that absence. The proverb is thus very adaptable and can be used in sports, school, politics, business, etc. It is used to identify a situation where the tormented are rejoicing or overstepping boundaries they usually would not. In a mischievous way though, it can also be used by a cunning third party, who may gain from the tormented freely expressing themselves, by encouraging such behavior where the third party sees or orchestrates the absence of the tormentor.