BoN warns lovebirds against cash bouquets
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Namibia’s annual love language is once again on full display: roses, teddy bears, candles and, increasingly, bouquets made entirely of banknotes. For some, nothing says “I love you” quite like folding crisp notes into petals and stems. For the Bank of Namibia (BoN), however, this romantic gesture is less Cupid, more crime scene.The central bank has issued a reminder ahead of 14 February warning Namibians against defacing or mutilating banknotes for decorative or artistic purposes, including turning money into flower bouquets. While often done in a light-hearted and well-intended spirit, BoN says the practice is illegal and has real financial consequences for the country.
In a telephone interview with Network Media Hub (NMH) yesterday, BoN spokesperson Kazembira Zemburuka said the Bank is stepping up public education rather than cracking down with immediate sanctions. “For us, it’s something that we just need to reinforce and re-educate the public on,” Zemburuka said. “It’s a serious challenge because it impacts the quality of our banknotes.”
According to Zemburuka, when notes are folded, stapled, glued or otherwise handled roughly, they deteriorate much faster. “When the quality diminishes, it means that we spend more money on printing new banknotes,” he explained. “On that basis, we really discourage Namibians from treating banknotes in that manner because it has an impact on the country.”
Beyond costs, there is also symbolism. Zemburuka stressed that banknotes are national symbols deserving of respect. “A banknote is a national symbol of the country. It needs to be treated with the necessary dignity, just like the national flag, the coat of arms or the national anthem,” he said.
The legal basis for the Bank’s position is clear. Section 24 of the Bank of Namibia Act, 1997 states that any person who, without the Bank’s permission, wilfully cuts, tears, perforates, mutilates, writes on, stamps, draws on, or attaches anything to a banknote is guilty of an offence. In practice, this includes rolling, fastening or assembling notes into bouquets — even if the money still looks “usable”.
BoN says its immediate focus is awareness rather than punishment. “We believe Namibians are law-abiding citizens,” Zemburuka said, adding that the Bank hopes education will prevent cases needing police involvement. However, he cautioned that continued non-compliance, once awareness has been raised, may leave authorities with no option but to report incidents to law enforcement. “Ignorance of the law is never a defence,” he said.
Meanwhile, the warning has left some florists unsure where they stand. One flower shop owner, who spoke to NMH on condition of anonymity, said vendors are caught in the middle. “We’re just holding. We’re not the ones mutilating, we’re not selling the money,” they said. “But it’s still against the law.We are fully aware of the issue, and if the Bank determines that the practice is against the law, we will comply and explore alternative options.” The florist questioned how enforcement would work and whether businesses could be targeted for social media posts advertising money bouquets.
For now, BoN’s advice is simple: if you’ve pre-ordered a cash bouquet, reconsider. Get your money back, buy flowers with flowers, and leave the notes to do what they were designed for changing hands, not shape. On Valentine’s Day, it seems, love may be priceless, but the law still puts a value on how you handle your cash.
