Pantless South African dancer Zodwa Wabantu deported by Zambia authorities

Controversial South African dancer Zodwa Wabantu has been deported by Zambian authorities after vowing the saucy dancer would not be given permission to dance in the country because she dances without wearing underwear.

According to her promoter, Zodwa Wabantu will not be performing in the country anymore as initially slated. She had been billed to perform at an album launch on Saturday evening, but was sent back when she landed in the morning at the Kenneth Kaunda international airport.

I can confirm that Zodwa has been deported back to South Africa by the immigration department, her promoter Lucky Munakampe told AFP, adding no reasons were given for her deportation.

Zambia’s religious affairs minister Godfridah Sumaili in a chat with AFP last week said that Zodwa would not be allowed to perform in the country.

Zambia is a Christian nation where morality and ethics have to be followed. We don’t expect a woman to dance without underwear. If she is ready to come with her panties, fine, we will welcome her Sumaili said.

Zambia is a largely conservative country where the majority of people practice Christianity. 

In response to her deportation, the dancer said that she feels she has become a pawn in a fight between Zambian authorities and her promoters in the country. She however assured her fans that she would be back and it is just a matter of time.

Last year the censorship board in neighboring Zimbabwe barred Zodwa Wabantu from performing at an annual carnival after a protest by a local actress. The protest was later supported by other agencies ho believed her presence in the country would harm the youth.

Following a backlash, censorship authorities later backtracked and allowed Zodwa Wabantu to perform at a private venue, but she refused to go saying she was afraid.