The dust surrounding the impending visit of South African entertainer Zodwa Wabantu seems far from settling.
In the latest episode, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife on Monday wrote the Ministry of Homeland Security to prohibit the artist from entering Malawi to perform at the Winter Amapiano Vibes event.
This followed a video clip which captures Zodwa saying that she is coming to Malawi as a visitor and not to perform. The South African media personality, socialite and dancer committed to comply with the laws of Malawi by remaining fully dressed and restricting herself to picture sessions with her fans during the event on June 10.
When The Nation sought clarity from Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Chauncy Simwaka if the communication meant Zodwa is effectively banned from coming to Malawi, he was coy, only saying that decision lays with the responsible ministry.
“Our office made the communication based on the review of the application of permit that we received. What will happen thereafter is not in our domain,” he said.
Asked what they made of her commitment to keep her participation within acceptable limits, Simwaka said it was not his authority to comment on social media issues. He said if the organisers have any issues, they will communicate to his office formally.
Simwaka said: “We don’t have control over what she will do on stage. But we know what she does and we know why she was invited here in the first place. We will not take that risk.”
But lawyer Khumbo Soko has described government’s stance as an act of pettiness and a hallmark of an unreasonable decision. The legal practitioner wondered what government is trying to achieve with such a decision.
“The government cannot be regulating what entertainment adults want to expose themselves to especially where the performer is also an adult and nobody is going to be harmed as a consequence.
“Yes! Our immigration laws give discretion to government on who to admit into our borders, but such discretion should be used reasonably and not capriciously,” he said.
However, social commentator Chatinkha Chidzanja Nkhoma, who is leading a group of women against the coming of Zodwa, said allowing the artist to come to Malawi will be an act of embarrassment on the country’s womenfolk.
She said: “What do you make of someone who thrives on displaying her nakedness to the public? What will that mean to us as women? We want to say this in the strongest voice that we don’t want her here.”
Meanwhile, organiser of the show Biggie Lu said the event will go ahead with or without Zodwa,
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