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03/04/2009
Malawi Court Rejects Madonna Adoption Bid
Pop star Madonna has lost her bid to adopt a second child from Malawi.
Sources at the court in Llongwe said that judge Esme Chombo ruled against granting the US singer's interim adoption, saying a requirement that the prospective parents be resident in the country for 18 to 24 months.
The 50-year-old wanted to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, who is around four-years-old.
Madonna’s efforts to adopt the young girl have been met with criticism from some activists who argue Mercy would be better off living with relatives.
A coalition of non-governmental organisations, the Human Rights Consultative Committee had criticised the star's adoption attempts, saying that adoption should be the last resort and that children need to be taken care of by their own family.
"Mercy James is a child who has her extended close family members alive and we urge Madonna to assist the child from right here," the coalition said earlier this week.
Critics also accused her of using her fame and money to fast-track the application. Though Madonna denied these accusations, with her spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg saying she had followed standard procedures.
Madonna, who recently split from the British film-maker Guy Ritchie had faced similar accusations when she adopted he son David, now three, in 2006.
She also has two other children, Lourdes, 13 and eight-year-old rocco.
However, the African country's women and child welfare development minister had endorsed Madonna's application.
"We have close to two million orphans in Malawi who need help," the, Anna Kachikho said yesterday.
"We can't look after all of them as a country. If people like Madonna adopt even one such orphan, it’s one mouth less we have to feed."
(JM/BMcC)
Sources at the court in Llongwe said that judge Esme Chombo ruled against granting the US singer's interim adoption, saying a requirement that the prospective parents be resident in the country for 18 to 24 months.
The 50-year-old wanted to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James, who is around four-years-old.
Madonna’s efforts to adopt the young girl have been met with criticism from some activists who argue Mercy would be better off living with relatives.
A coalition of non-governmental organisations, the Human Rights Consultative Committee had criticised the star's adoption attempts, saying that adoption should be the last resort and that children need to be taken care of by their own family.
"Mercy James is a child who has her extended close family members alive and we urge Madonna to assist the child from right here," the coalition said earlier this week.
Critics also accused her of using her fame and money to fast-track the application. Though Madonna denied these accusations, with her spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg saying she had followed standard procedures.
Madonna, who recently split from the British film-maker Guy Ritchie had faced similar accusations when she adopted he son David, now three, in 2006.
She also has two other children, Lourdes, 13 and eight-year-old rocco.
However, the African country's women and child welfare development minister had endorsed Madonna's application.
"We have close to two million orphans in Malawi who need help," the, Anna Kachikho said yesterday.
"We can't look after all of them as a country. If people like Madonna adopt even one such orphan, it’s one mouth less we have to feed."
(JM/BMcC)
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Madonna's spokeswoman has denied that she had any plans to adopt a second Malawian child. The 48-year-old star sparked a furore when she adopted one-year-old David Banda last year. Her spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said: "Madonna is going to Africa to continue her work with Raising Malawi Organisation.
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The Malawian baby that popstar Madonna is looking to adopt has arrived in Britain. David Banda, who is 13-months-old, is understood to have flown to the UK with a bodyguard and a nanny on a private jet, which landed at Heathrow airport on Tuesday morning. The child is reported to have been taken to the US star's home in London.
Madonna baby flown into UK
The Malawian baby that popstar Madonna is looking to adopt has arrived in Britain. David Banda, who is 13-months-old, is understood to have flown to the UK with a bodyguard and a nanny on a private jet, which landed at Heathrow airport on Tuesday morning. The child is reported to have been taken to the US star's home in London.
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21 November 2008
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