Mukadzi munaku kusaba anoroya; Mukadzi mutsvuku kusaroya anoba; Nhenha isibi inoroya

Usanyengedzwe nezvekunze, hapana asina chivi.

A beautiful wife/woman who does not steal, must be a witch.

Appearances can be deceptive yet no one is without vice. ;An attractive appearance hides an inner flaw

It is very possible that this proverb was as a consequence of various wars and family squabbles prevalent in our history, of which a good number emanated around fights over "beautiful" women. As such this may have been a response meant to discourage men from pursuing the same woman based on her outward beauty, but rather to accept that all women have virtues and vices, hence the woman one considers not so good looking is at times more virtuous and easier to get along with. It is essentially a warning that all that glisters is not gold. The proverb is not a descriptive exposition of "beautiful" women and should not be taken literally.

The proverb is useful in advising men particularly, to not be misled by outer beauty but to take time to learn and understand someone and their family. It helps men also realize that no matter how beautiful a woman is, she is not perfect. In the same vein, married men should not be fooled by the beauty of women whose vices they do not know, yet at home they have a wife whose vices they have now grown accustomed too.