Usiku humwe hauodzi nyemba

Kana munhu akanonoka kuita chinhu nezuva rimwe kana kwenguva yakati, haafaniri kurasa moyo nokuti anogona kuzochiita munguva inotevera.

One night cannot lead to cow-peas rotting

One must not lose heart due to delays but rather accept that some things cannot be rushed. A similar english saying is “better late than never.”

Cow beans are very nutritious and a common food in the southern Africa region. They are also easy to preserve since they do not rot easily even after cooking. Hence in the times before there were fridges the preservative qualities of the cow beans were used to reflect on the importance of not rushing things. As such our elders used this as an example of how taking short cuts can be dangerous and that if there are delays, one must not stress or panic.

The proverb is used to comfort and encourage someone who has been dissuaded by delays either in their personal or work goals. It is meant to counter panic or stress due to delays but not to encourage procrastination. The proverb is also used to warn against taking short-cuts.