Chantel Takudzwa Zambukira
The Count down continues to Valentine’s Day 2023. Lovers use this day to celebrate their affection for each other. This they do by buying each other gifts. ZIM GBC NEWS carried out a survey on how ready shop owners are for the anticipated rush by lovers who will be out to spoil their better half. However, it has emerged that unlike Christmas and other holidays, the commercial-ness of Valentine’s Day has been watered down by the economic challenges afflicting Zimbabwe.
The Gift shop owners said most times several months down the line post-Valentine’s, they have of late been stuck in the burden of trying to clear off stock that would have been expected to be sold out in the month of February. Most of the gifts lined up to be sold this year are in fact left overs from previous “month of love” seasons.
An entrepreneur who preferred to be named just Stha said Gift shop owners are now forced to adapt or die.
“Though the environment is not conducive for business, we still look forward to cash in on Valentine’s Day.”
An employee at one of the gift shops in the City of Bulawayo, Peter Nyamande told this reporter that it appears the excitement that usually surrounds Valentine’s Day is slowly evaporating.
“People no longer see the importance of Valentine’s Day. Celebrating it with their hair done is now history as they are committed to other aspects of their lives, especially coming from January,” said Charity Mukuze a hairdresser operating at one of the salons in Bulawayo Central Business District.
With eleven days before Valentine’s Day, Zim GBC News will continue to give you a countdown on this
year’s commemorations.
We will be giving you various takes on the month of love from the commercial aspect, political religious, and cultural.
What is Valentine’s Day?
Several martyrdom stories were invented for the various Valentines that belonged to 14 February and added to the later metrologies. A popular account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.