US dollar bouquets and gifts made from recycled metal dominate Valentine's traditions in Zimbabwe

Alongside currency-based gifts, another Valentine’s trend is emerging — keepsakes fashioned from recycled aluminium.

In Zimbabwe, Valentine’s Day gifting is increasingly reflecting the country’s economic conditions and changing consumer values. From arrangements made of folded banknotes to handcrafted ornaments produced from discarded metal, expressions of affection are being shaped by both financial realities and environmental awareness.

Across Harare, bouquets constructed from US dollar notes are becoming a prominent alternative to traditional floral arrangements. Rolled and pinned together to resemble flowers, the notes are arranged alongside fresh stems or presented alone as decorative displays. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have amplified the trend, according to a report in the Hartford Courant. 

“Please God, make my lover see this,” commented one TikTok user beneath a video showcasing cash-and-flower combinations. Another wrote, “May this bouquet locate me in Jesus name, amen.”

At one of Harare’s longstanding flower markets, Tongai Mufandaedza has been preparing these arrangements ahead of Valentine’s Day. Using adhesive and bamboo sticks, he shapes crisp US$50 notes into cone-like forms before combining them with white roses. The final product is wrapped in red paper and ribbon.

“The market has improved because of the money bouquets,” said Mufandaedza, who has operated at the country’s largest flower market for three decades.

“On Valentine’s Day, we are going to have more, more, more customers, because this is something which is trending. Everyone wants to impress,” he added, as per a report in 1news. 

Among shoppers was Kimberleigh Kawadza, aged 23, who expressed enthusiasm for the idea. “The person who came up with the trend, I just need to give them a hands up. They did a good job,” she told 1news. “It’s a way of appreciating my partner, it’s a 100 for me, it’s a 100.”

While younger consumers have been particularly receptive, Mufandaedza noted that interest now extends beyond Generation Z. He said some parents purchase the arrangements for their daughters “so that they don’t fall into peer pressure and get tempted to go for sugar daddies who can lure them with such gifts.”

Prices vary considerably. Smaller displays may contain as little as US$10, whereas larger versions can reach several thousand dollars. In certain cases, they are priced below conventional bouquets.

A bouquet incorporating US$10 in notes sells for US$25, according to Mufandaedza. By comparison, 10 high-quality red roses are priced between US$35 and US$40. He said customers frequently ask “where is the money?” if presented with flowers alone.

For many buyers, the appeal lies not only in presentation but also in practicality. Zimbabwe’s economic history continues to influence spending behaviour. The US dollar has been widely used since hyperinflation led to the abandonment of the local currency in 2009. Although Zimbabwe has since reintroduced a domestic currency, the US dollar remains both legal tender and the dominant medium of exchange.

In this context, access to physical cash carries particular weight. “People still love flowers, but when they see the notes on top, the love feels hotter and the gesture even more meaningful. Survival matters more in these difficult times and money plays a bigger role,” Mufandaedza said.

Because newly issued notes are preferred for decorative purposes, damaged or worn US bills — informally referred to by some as “war veterans” — are rarely used. This has led to small-scale traders offering cleaner notes in exchange for commission.

Zimbabwe is not alone in experiencing the popularity of monetary bouquets. The concept has gained traction elsewhere in Africa, including Kenya. However, ahead of Valentine’s Day, Kenya’s central bank cautioned that folding, stapling or gluing banknotes could attract penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment, citing laws against defacing currency and concerns about disrupting cash processing systems. The announcement prompted debate online, with some critics suggesting the warning was excessive.

BREAKING: Central Bank has warned Kenyans who use banknotes to create bouquets of flowers as presents for their loved ones during birthdays. @CBKKenya says such people will be prosecuted! https://t.co/UEHcL0U2jipic.twitter.com/refwjE8jPY

— Juma G 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3) February 2, 2026

In Zimbabwe, there are no equivalent restrictions. Alongside currency-based gifts, another Valentine’s trend is emerging — keepsakes fashioned from recycled aluminium.

At an upmarket shopping centre in Harare, Simpli Simbi, a decor and gift store, displays heart-shaped key rings, necklaces, platters and wine holders produced from reclaimed scrap metal. The name “Simbi” translates as metal in the Shona language.

Stephanie Charlton, the shop’s founder, explained the concept: “We are taking something that was unloved before, polishing it up and making it beautiful again towards a gift to someone that they can treasure forever.”

Charlton, formerly involved in horticultural exports and now employing 20 staff, said her customer base has shifted over time. Once reliant on tourists and Zimbabweans living abroad, she now sees increasing demand from local buyers, which she attributes to heightened environmental awareness.

At her nearby foundry in an industrial district, discarded radiators, vehicle rims and other scrap collected from roadsides and landfill sites are melted in an open furnace and recast into handmade items.

“Women love chocolates and flowers, but they are here today, gone tomorrow,” Charlton told 1news.

“This is something that we have collected that would be filling up a landfill. But we have made it into something beautiful that you can give to (your valentine), show them that you treasure them. There is a meaning behind it, there is a story to be told with each piece.”

(With inputs from AP)