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Madonna's worthy to adopt second child says Malawi minister
Amar Singh02.04.09
MADONNA'S bid to adopt a second child from Africa was backed today by the Malawian government.
The singer is set to discover tomorrow whether the Malawian High Court has ruled in favour of her interim adoption of a four-year-old girl, Mercy James.
The star has faced a great deal of criticism from children's rights groups since 2006 when she adopted 13-month-old Malawian David Banda.
They accuse her of using her wealth, influence and profile to garner special treatment and skirt the usual adoption laws.
Today Malawian information minister Patricia Kaliati said Madonna had helped in the country and was a worthy mother.
Mr Kaliati said: "Madonna has been good to us, she is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of David.
"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process."
Madonna, 50, arrived in Malawi on Sunday accompanied by David before the court hearing which has been adjourned until tomorrow.
She has told friends she is confident of being granted the adoption and is determined not to be put off by the barrage of criticism.
Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt said adoption should only be a last resort.
"It is vital, we say, that children should be cared for in their own environment by their own community, ideally by their own family. The thing to do is to support the community, the local agencies and the charities who can look after the child.'
Malawian regulations require prospective parents to be resident in the country for 18 to 24 months, during which time welfare officials assess their suitability - a rule that was sidestepped when Madonna was allowed to take David to London in 2006 before his adoption was finalised.
Malawi, with a population of 12 million, is among the poorest countries in the world, with widespread disease and hunger, exacerbated by droughts and crop failure.
The UN estimates that one million Malawian children have lost one or both parents, about half of them to Aids.
Reader views (7)
Will this wretched woman ever leave these poor children alone, I'm sure they will be happier left with their own kith and kin, as materially poor as they might be, you only have to look at her daughter lourdes to see how she will turn out, dolled to the nines in expensive brand named fashion, the likely hood that she will be full of her own selfish importance a certainty.
Guy knows what a cold calculating and un spiritual individual she can be this is not about the child it is about herself, she did it with her hatred of fur and its killing industry and then appears wearing a £35,000 fur coat, if she can sink morally that low, i bet my house that she has no real maternal feelings for these children it is just another trophy that she can easily afford and then tritely palm off with nannies and cash to keep out of her sight while she conjours with her next shallow publicity five minute of a wonder gimmick
- Sarah Ackland-Snow, Surrey England
"Poor child! Madonna's latest fashion accessory!" Like the child would have a better life in an orphanage, with a life expectancy of about 35. What is wrong with all you people, she is supporting 25,000 orphans, how exactly is that wrong??!! Maybe when you have done half of what she did, then you could start passing judgement. Idiots.
- Nikos Stylianou, Nicosia, CYPRUS
It's funny how the British people and media loved Madonna and printed positive stories until he divorced deadbeat Guy Ritchie. Now you all think she is evil. I am so glad she got her wits about her and came back to the USA.
- Kim, Mount Vernon GA USA
I wish Madonna would come and adopt me !!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Howard, Nanaimo BC Canada
Can we get this stupid cow out of the UK before she adopts the whole of Africa. The social welfare system will go into meltdown.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Poor child! Madonna's latest fashion accessory!
- Cally G, Essex, UK
Who is really going to benefit here the child or Madonna's reputation
- Simeongraham, London
