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Bongani Ndlovu Saturday Leisure Correspondent
BREAKING the norm, Zimbabwean female celebrities yesterday decided to appreciate their loved ones by pampering them with Valentine’s Day gifts though it was not a leap year.
Women traditionally buy their loved ones gifts when it is a leap year.
In separate interviews a day before Valentine’s Day, some of the celebrities said they would buy presents while others promised to cook special dinners. Others opted to wine and dine their husbands at local eating spots dotted around the country.

The ladies pointed out that Valentine’s Day was a time for them to stoke the fires of love.
Modelling director and a romantic Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda said she was going to spoil her husband Nkosilathi with a special candlelit dinner at a local hotel as he did the same for her last year on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

“I am waiting for him to come from Harare. It’s just a small way to show that I love him with all my heart. He is my chosen one and why should I hold back?” she said.

Mpofu-Sibanda said those who did not treat their loved ones were playing a very dangerous game.
“There are hungry lions and lionesses out there that are waiting for people who sleep on their job. I urge all ladies to indulge their men as this goes a long way in cementing the couples’ relations,” she said.

Mpofu-Sibanda said although some believed that Valentines was a European concept, she supported it as it makes people reflect on their relationships.

“Love has to be rekindled everyday but on Valentine’s Day is when you express your love to each other much more,” she said.
A walk down any street in Bulawayo yesterday showed that the city was in the Valentine’s mood as it was painted red and white with love birds walking about hand in hand. Women were carrying cards, teddy bears, roses and various other gifts such as perfumes and earrings from their loved ones.

Dance icon and musician, Sandra Ndebele said she was going to have a belated Valentine’s Day celebrations with her husband Mbuso Sibindi due to work commitment.

She said she would send the children to their granny’s place so that they could be free to enjoy the evening alone.
“Kanti vele ogogo umsebenzi wabo ngowani? I will send the children to her so that the two of us are left alone because I have something special lined up for him,” beamed Ndebele.

Sandy as Ndebele is affectionately known by her fans also advised other women to spoil their husbands and lovers.
“We should pamper our sweethearts during this special day in our lives. We have to make something special like a meal or buy a present. Let us be women who once in a while spoil their men,” she said.

Sandy said she gets starry-eyed when she is treated to some chocolates and sweets during Valentine’s Day.
Songstress Selmor Mtukudzi said love was all about expression and those women who do not spoil their loved ones did not know what they were missing.

“Women who do not buy their men or husbands anything ‘mabharanzi’. How can you just talk love without expressing it?                           We have to express the love through gifts and actions so what better way to do so than to buy someone a present or do something for them on Valentines Day,” she said.

Mtukudzi said she was going to spend Valentines with her husband and darling Tendai Manatsa in the evening performing at the Book Cafe in Harare.

She said they were going to hold a duet and sing songs they produced together at the show.
“We will perform songs like Hakuna Mumwe, Iwe neni and Kuwirirana Kunevanodanana. I think during the day we shall spend time together relaxing at home,” she said.

Selmor said she had no clue on what she would cook but would come up with something special for her husband.
“You caught me off guard. I really do not know what to do for him. I know he likes traditional foods like madora. I think I will make something like that for him,” she said.

Radio personality Tinopona “Tin Tin Katsande was of a different view saying Valentine was for secret admires not for those already in love.

She said every Valentines she enjoys and this year it is the same.
“I think Valentines is for secret admirers sending you gifts and roses and cards with messages saying ‘Can you be my Valentine’. When you open the card that is when you find out who the secret admirer is. Those in love can go for it but for me Valentine’s Day is for secret admirers,” she said.