At Harare's historic flower market, Tongai Mufandaedza meticulously crafts "money bouquets." He rolls crisp 50 USD notes into cones, attaches them to bamboo sticks with glue, and intersperses them with white roses.
Tongai, who has sold flowers at the market for three decades, anticipates a surge in money bouquet sales this Valentine's season, revitalizing the market. "This is a trending phenomenon. Everyone wants to make an impression," he stated.
Money bouquet prices vary widely. Small arrangements might contain just 10 USD, while larger ones can be worth thousands of USD. In some cases, they are even more affordable than traditional flowers. For example, a 10 USD money bouquet costs 25 USD, whereas 10 premium red roses are priced from 35 to 40 USD.
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Florist Tongai Mufandaedza holds a USD money bouquet for Valentine's Day in Zimbabwe on 10/2. Photo: AP |
Unlike traditional flowers, the appeal of money bouquets is both romantic and practical, especially within Zimbabwe's economy where gift liquidity is highly valued. Many customers even ask, "Where's the money?", if Tongai delivers a bouquet without cash.
Kimberleigh Kawadza, 23, believes the person who conceived the money bouquet trend deserves praise. "It's a way to show appreciation for my boyfriend. For me, it's a 100, a perfect score," she said.
Similarly, online videos showcasing USD money bouquets attract numerous comments from viewers wishing their partners would see these products. Vendors report that Gen Z is driving the trend, but demand is spreading across various age groups.
Some parents even purchase money bouquets for their daughters on 14/2, aiming to alleviate pressure from peer comparisons or temptations from insincere gifts.
According to Tongai, people still love flowers, but seeing the banknotes nestled within seems to intensify that love and make the gesture more meaningful. "In these difficult times, survival is crucial, and money plays a larger role," he commented.
The USD has dominated transactions since hyperinflation forced the Zimbabwean government to abandon its local currency in 2009. Although the government later reissued its own currency, the USD remains legal tender and holds a dominant position. Due to the scarcity of new banknotes, the money bouquet trend has also spawned a service for exchanging new money for a commission.
Zimbabwe is not the only nation where the cash bouquet trend has emerged for Valentine's Day. This product is also booming in other African markets, including Kenya, one of the world's largest flower exporters.
Before Valentine's Day, the Central Bank of Kenya warned that folding, stapling, or gluing banknotes into bouquets could incur penalties of up to 7 years in prison. Officials argue this practice violates laws against currency defacement, adding a burden to the system for processing damaged cash. The warning sparked a lively online debate, with many opinions suggesting that the regulatory body is overreaching.
Phien An (according to AP)
