“I DON’T care what the day means. But this is the only time my boyfriend will have to spoil me,” said Rachael Moyo from Waterfalls.
Report by Jairos Saunyama
Rachael is not aware of the story behind the February 14 day. In fact to most people the day is just special as it is a time of expressing one’s love and affection.
Valentine’s Day, which is a highly commercialised day thrives on the love theme where the colour red is honoured and associated with revelry and extravagance.
It is a common sight in the capital that even shops have pushed out the boat where some of the goods that are labelled “Valentine Special” include generators, building materials, cars and other things. “We are aiming high. It is no use to advertise a teddy bear while there is one who wants to spoil his or her lover with a car or a house,” said Rex Chenga who works at a car sale garage in the capital.
Even those who sell trinkets like teddy bears, flowers are already stocking up and are admitting that this year business is better than the previous years.
Some of the teddies are costing more than $150.
“Our business is booming, and with Valentine’s Day approaching we have ordered a lot as history repeats itself.
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“This is the time where most people are not hesitating to dip their hands into their pockets to the last note all in the name of love,” said Linet who works in a floral shop.
Bigboy Choga, a florist who sells his wares from Africa Unity Square, said business was going well.
He said that since the day’s theme is love, his main colour is red. He added that a special flower called Gardin is popular with couples. “Gardin is on high demand, people are buying it like hot cakes and I am already running out of stock,” he said.
Valentine cakes are available at local shops costing not less than $15 and some cards are going for $5 and above.
“To me, Valentine is just a normal day. There is no need for me to dedicate a single day to show affection to my love when I can do so for 365 days,” said one young lady who identified herself as Linda. “Since it is on Thursday I will be at work,” she added.
Another lady called Wendy had some interesting views.
“To me the day does not have any meaning and I think our constitution should bar people from celebrating such a day.
“It also brings a lot of heartbreaks especially for women as guys will avoid us on the day to dodge buying presents,” she said. Wilfred Zambuko from Marondera said there is confusion over Valentine’s Day.
“It is a foreign thing and thereby it is shrouded in obscurity,” he said.
