Zodwa dismisses claims of imminent Botswana arrest

Performer Zodwa Wabantu has dismissed claims that a warrant had been issued for her arrest in Botswana for violating some of the country’s unnamed laws in addition to allegedly violating the country’s humanity ethics in previous performances in the country.

The claims against her were made in a statement attributed to event organisers and shared on the verfied Facebook page of Tswana artist, Vee Mampeezy.

“Take It easy Music Festival Patrons & Followers: We regret to inform you that our main act for today’s show – Zodwa Wabantu won’t be able to attend the event due to reasons/circumstances beyond our control which some of them include restraintments from the laws of Botswana.”

“Recently Zodwa Wabantu was slapped with a warrant of arrest for violating the Laws Of Botswana & Humanity Ethics on her last gigs/performance in Botswana,” read part of the statement.

Organisers added that the traditional Bogosi Leadership of Maun Village were also against Zodwa’s scheduled performance in the area.

Speaking to entertainment news publication TshisaLIVE on Thursday, Wabantu claimed not to know anything about a warrant of arrest in her name.

Instead, she insisted that she chose not to make her way to the event as organisers had not paid her booking fee.

“I didn’t go to Botswana because they didn’t pay me. It’s news to me that there is a warrant of arrest, maybe they just want fame or whatever. I got no payment and I never posted anything on my Instagram about Botswana because of that,” she told the publication.

Vee Mampeezy’s Facebook post garnered over 2,000 comments and commentators were in two minds about the matter. Some understood the government and traditional leadership’s position on the matter while others felt as though they were reaching to clamp down on social freedoms for no good reason.

This news comes just days after Zodwa Wabantu recently trended when many took to social media to share their thoughts about a clip from a live stream from an event where Zodwa’s unobscured private parts could be seen.

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