adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
RAUNCHY dancer Beverly Sibanda was arrested yesterday for contravening sections of the Censorship and Entertainment Act and also violating terms of her dancing licence by having contact with patrons. She is expected to appear at the Rottenrow Magistrate court in Harare today. This comes after lurid pictures of her performance at the just-ended Harare International Carnival Samba Night went viral on social networks. On the pictures, a bottomless Bev is seen making sexual moves to a man who she instructs to lie down, before she performs sexually suggestive routines on top of him.
According to the Censorship Board dancers licence given to Bev, she is not supposed to have physical contact with patrons during her performance at shows.
The clause under the dancers’ licence states that no physical contact can be made between the artiste and the audience during the performance of a striptease act, nor should the artiste at any time during the performance of a striptease act leave the open floor area used for the purpose of the act as a stage.
However, Bev has on countless occasions violated provisions of her licence as she always has physical contact with patrons. On Monday, she made a public apology to the nation for her behaviour, blaming it all on the Samba Night euphoria.
As of last night, according to sources, Bev was being held at the CID Law and Order division at Harare Central Police Station. Police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed Bev’s arrest.
“Yes she has been arrested, so what? That is all I can say!”
Her manager, Hapaguti “Harpers” Mapimhidze also confirmed her arrest saying she was summoned for questioning over her pictures that were published by H-Metro.
This is not the first time that Bev has been arrested. She was arrested two years ago with her colleague Zoey Sifelani. The two were detained overnight and were questioned over “their dressing and alleged public indecency.”
Bev has sent tongues wagging in Harare where her performances attract huge crowds in night clubs. She and her fellow dancers call male fans on stage where they would strip them down to their under garments and perform some sexually suggestive routines.
derick.khumalo