By SARAH MWANZA –
THE Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has condemned the widespread use of young children, especially girls, at weddings to entertain guests with suggestive dance styles that leave the elderly squirming in embarrassment.
Association executive director Ms Patricia Ndhlovu condemned the practice saying parents and adults have a moral obligation of providing proper guidance to children.
She told the Sunday Times in an interview that adults should desist from using innocent young girls as sources of entertainment through suggestive dancing.
The gyrating knife-girl, usually of pre-teen age, has become almost a staple on Zambian wedding line-ups.
The dances are wildly applauded by younger guests but tend to leave the elderly and more conservative guests fidgeting with nervous embarrassment in their seats.
“Young children being made to perform suggestive dances…that is not the correct way of doing things and the practice should be condemned,” said Ms Ndhlovu.
Ms Ndhlovu said matrons, patrons and parents had a moral obligation to ensure that whatever entertainment was provided at weddings was of a wholesome nature to cater to both young and old.
Godfridah Sumaili, minister of Religious Affairs and National Guidance said immoral dance styles performed at weddings were contaminating the holy institution of marriage.

Reverend Sumaili said marriage was ordained by God and any form of entertainment that was not of a wholesome nature was a blemish on a holy thing.
Rev Sumaili said it was possible to have entertainment that upheld both cultural and Christian values keeping with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
“Dances which make onlookers uncomfortable should not be tolerated because we are a Christian nation and have cultural and national values that we need to respect at all costs,” she said.