Nzou hairemerwi nenyanga dzayo; Nzou hairemerwe nemusinga wayo.
The elephant is not burdened by its own tusks; The elephant does not find its trunk heavy.
Tsanagudzo
Munhu haafaniri kundikani kusenga mutoro wake nyangwe kune vanoona zvichiita sezvinorema.
What the Words Say
The elephant is not burdened by its own tusks; The elephant does not find its trunk heavy.
What It Means
One will not resent bearing the burden of something they know to be part and parcel of oneself regardless of how others view it. One should be equal to one's responsibilities.
Cultural Context
The elephant’s tusks, besides being made of precious ivory, are quite heavy for any other creature. But for the elephant itself, the tusks and the trunk do not present a major burden. This is because the tusks and the trunk are part of the elephants anatomy and hence it was created with the inherent ability to carry both. From this our elders observed that whatever responsibilities one may have, if they are inbuilt they should not find them burdensome. Hence such things as children may seem burdensome to others but to the parents these are bundles of joy. As such if a person takes on many responsibilities, it is because one knows one’s capabilities. Others should not wonder how he/she is managing or feel they can handle those responsibilities better.
How It's Used
The proverb is used to re-enforce oneself or others in their capabilities to meet their responsibilities and look after what is inherently theirs or part of them. It can also be used as an observation in awe of one’s ability to handle with ease what others may see as burdensome.