Madonna, in Malawi, refuses to talk about adoption
(Agencies)
2009-03-30 08:38
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U.S. pop star Madonna and her daughter Lourdes shake hands with residents in the village of Magwelo on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi, Sunday March 29, 2009. [Agencies] |
It was not clear if the school she discussed Sunday was her proposed Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.
A Malawian welfare official and another person involved in the adoption proceedings have said the girl Madonna is hoping to adopt is about 4 years old and her unmarried mother died soon after she was born. The girl's father is believed to be alive but no other details were available. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is considered sensitive.
A U.S. government official has also confirmed that an adoption bid by Madonna, an American citizen, is under way.
Madonna has faced harsh criticism for years over David's adoption. Children's advocacy groups accused her of wielding her immense wealth and influence to circumvent Malawian law requiring an 18- to 24-month assessment period before adoption.
But locals were not so condemning.
Wilson Kalibwanji, a resident of Chinkhota, said he would willingly place his own son in her care to ensure the boy a better life.
"We are poor people," he said Sunday. "If a child's mother dies, it is hard for the man to bring the child up."
Austin Msowoya, legal researcher with Malawi's Law Commission, played down concerns that a second adoption by Madonna would violate any laws. He said the best interests of the child would be taken into account — whether that was staying in an orphanage in Malawi or getting "an education with Madonna."
"When you look at these two options, then perhaps it becomes in the best interests of the child to allow the adoption if the parents and the guardians consent to it," he told Associated Press Television News on Saturday.
But Save the Children UK said the recently divorced superstar risked sending the wrong message by going through with the second adoption.