Pregnancy won't stop me from flying, says Sandra Ndebele

VETERAN performing artiste Sandra Ndebele who is heavily pregnant and due anytime, has become a regular passenger of Air Zimbabwe as she flies between Harare and Bulawayo almost every week. Popularly known for her splits, Sandy as she is affectionately known in the arts industry, was almost barred from flying back to Bulawayo after one of the captains feared she would give birth midair.

Eight months into her pregnancy, Sandy who is married to Nkanyiso Sibindi yesterday said her life would not come to a halt because of pregnancy, adding that doctors had given her the green light to travel.

"I'm pregnant but that doesn't mean I should stop doing business. The doctor said it was safe to travel to Harare by air as there was nothing wrong with short trips that take 45 minutes," she said.

Sandy who has kept gala attendees well entertained over the years, has not let pregnancy deter her from doing what puts food on her table as she in 2011, performed at President Mugabe's birthday bash heavily pregnant.

She gave birth two months later.

The entrepreneur who runs a boutique in Bulawayo - Sandy's Boutique and travels to Dubai and China monthly to buy clothes for the shop, said she was no longer doing so as the doctor had discouraged her from embarking on long journeys. "The doctor discouraged me from travelling long distances such as Dubai and China as anything can happen."

The artiste who is expecting her third baby next month, said she has been travelling to Harare on Fridays, returning on Sundays for business for the past couple of months.

"When I travelled to Harare last weekend, I was attending the Dream Star finals where I was a judge. On other weekends, I'll have gone for various film shoots as well as attend various events such as the Harare International Carnival," she said.

She is also frequenting the capital to scout for talented girls whom she wants to join her Intombi Zomqangala group. A hardworking Sandy is determined to complete the recording of music videos for her Izenzo album, released this year.

"I want to complete the recording of music videos for my album and I'm certain this will happen before end of year. People shouldn't worry about me, taking videos isn't that much of a big deal for a person as pregnant as I am."

The dance queen recently hogged the limelight after having delayed a Bulawayo bound Air Zimbabwe flight after a female pilot — Captain Elizabeth Simbi Petros refused to take off with a heavily pregnant Ndebele without a clearance letter from the doctor.

Worldwide, most airlines do not allow women to travel after week 36 of pregnancy, or week 32 if they are pregnant with twins or multiples.