ZODWA WABANTU doesn’t wear panties . . . everybody knows that.
And Zimbabwe Tourism booked her for a show – but now they want her to “cover the essentials”.
WILL ZODWA AGREE?
“BAYANYA!” IS HER ANSWER.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority booked her to be part of the Harare International Carnival in September.
But yesterday the Tourism Authority announced during a media briefing that Zodwa must change her show.
Sugar Chagonda, head of corporate affairs there, said Zodwa could be forced to compromise as they require her to wear underwear during her feature.
According to Chagonda, chiefs and traditional leaders attending the performance will be upset, and if she doesn’t do as they ask she won’t be needed.
“She is going to be one of the star attractions at the Samba night on 6 September. She’s popular in the region and through her we want to target regional tourists,” Chagonda said.
Karikoga Kaseke, the Tourist Authority’s chief executive officer, told journalists at a press conference in Zimbabwe: “I hope she will have her panties on. If she cannot perform in panties then we don’t want her because chiefs and traditional leaders won’t like it.”
Zodwa, whose real name is Zodwa Libram (32), lashed out at the tourism authority.
“They invited me knowing what I wear and how I perform in public,” fumed the angry star after learning what was expected of her.
“Who are they to change me? They are really out of line. I have worked hard all of my life to establish myself as a brand and they can’t change who I am.
“How did they invite me, knowing what I do and how I dress would offend them?”
She said they should not have invited her.
“They should have left me alone. I’m really not happy. They are out of their minds.”
She described their instruction as demotivating and said her rights as a woman were being abused.
“We preach every day about woman empowerment, gender- based violence and woman abuse and they want to tell me how I should do things? Bayanya!”
Others invited to the carnival are 10 Samba dancers from Brazil and Cuban dancers, with Zodwa billed as the main act.
Babes Wodumo, Busiswa and Uhuru from Mzansi have also been invited.
