Pfini yenyoka kungoruma icho isingadyi

Munhu anehutsinye anorwadzisa vamwe ipo pasina mhaka kana chaanowana nekurwadzisa kwaanenge achiita.

The spite of the snake is to bite what it will not eat

It is supremely evil to inflict pain on others for no reason at all

The snake is a dangerous venomous reptile that feeds on small rodents. It uses its fangs or spits venom at possible prey to apply poison that disables or kills the rodent, which it then swallows. However the snake also defends itself in the same manner except that it won’t eat the predator thereafter. An unfortunate passerby may scare the snake into this defensive act and suffer a lethal bite. Our elders observed that it is quite spiteful and evil to bite something that it doesn’t eat. Other creatures attack or bite prey mostly for consumption and hence it is justified as a means of survival. The lesson identified by our elders was that it is plain evil and vile to cause unnecessary pain. If one must inflict pain to others there must be a good reason and benefit for either or both parties.

The proverb is used to lament the wickedness of people who cause unnecessary pain to others where there is clearly no benefit to anyone. It is also used to advise and teach about the importance of not inflicting pain to others generally and especially without due cause.