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Malawi: Madonna Tries to Adopt Second Child

30 March 2009


Cape Town — Madonna is back in Malawi, seeking to adopt another child from the country – despite controversy over her adoption of a child there three years ago.

Local media outlets reported Monday that the pop star had arrived at Lilongwe International Airport on a private jet on Sunday for a hearing in the High Court in Lilongwe on the adoption of a four-year-old child. The Nyasa Times reported that Madonna would attend the hearing, to be presided over Monday by Judge Esmie Chombo.

Capital FM said she had chosen a child from an orphanage in the small town of Thyolo, in the south of Malawi.

The radio station also reported that she had visited Chinkhota village, near Lilongwe, where she had bought land on which to build an orphanage, and that while she was in the country she expected to visit the father of the first child she adopted.

Although the Nyasa Times said that many ordinary Malawians – and President Bingu wa Mutharika – welcomed her decision to adopt a second Malawian child, local and international human rights groups opposed it.

The national co-ordinator of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, Mavuto Bamusi, told Capital FM that since Parliament had been dissolved ahead of elections, the adoption needed to be halted until it could meet to amend the law. The station said the Malawi Human Rights Commission was also opposed to the adoption.

In Britain, the Save the Children Fund UK said adoption should be considered only if a child was genuinely an orphan, and all other alternatives had been exhausted.

"The best place for a child is in his or her family in their home community," said Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt. "Most children in orphanages have one parent still living, or have an extended family that can care for them in the absence of their parents."

Madonna's Adoption Plan Stirs Controversy

Nutt added: "International adoption is also big business in some countries. Unscrupulous adoption agencies may profit from the sale of children, without ensuring the child is eligible for adoption, or adequately vetting the adoptive parents… We urge any celebrity to set an example, to follow internationally agreed procedures designed to protect the child, and to ensure that the child in question has no other options in their home community."

An unnamed government official told a Malawian newpaper in December that as a divorcée Madonna would find it difficult to adopt in Malawi again.

"The truth of the matter is that it is almost impossible for a single parent to adopt a Malawian child and those celebrities who think that they can bend the law to adopt children here when they are single parents are totally wrong," the official said.

When she adopted a Malawian child in 2006, NGOs suggested that the pop star and the Malawi government had "bent the rules" to allow the adoption.

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Madonna's Adoption Plan Stirs Controversy

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Author: Omugabe
Mon Mar 30 15:11:59 2009

When will some Africans wake the hell up, and kick out these wicked white witches? African children ARE NOT animals, for whom cultural identity is not that important for their existence. First the evil Europeans disrupt, destabilize and destroy Africa indigenous cultures. Then these evil witches enter to further destroy the African identity of the children.j We know these white witches to be evil and UNHELPFUL to Africa's children; because if they were helpful, they would know to leave the children within their indigenous culture and SEND MONEY so that the children can grow up with a healthy mind within their own cultural setting. Again, SEND MONEY instead. Return stolen African wealth and resources and stop the evil interference; and Africans will be just fine, as they have been for thousands of generations before there was even a single European on the planet! SEND MONEY, so that Africans can take care of their own African children. Hopefully these African children will grow up to destroy those wicked white witches who seek to remove them from their indigenous cultural settings.

Author: theatre-sans-frontier
Fri Apr 3 21:58:51 2009

All intelligent-feeling people-of every nation and origin is with you on this one. Madonna is a 'self' satisfying creature who can only exist where SHE CONTROLS ALL. That is NOT a worthy Mother for Mercy - regardless. Money CAN buy Madonna - love - except from men she chooses to marry - they all give up.. lest we forget : she CHOSE Lourdes' father for his - looks - he wwas only a sperm donor-but rejected him as 'husband' material. Madonna is a nazi on those terms. She wants African Children at this critical point in her credibility ratings - as Trophy acquisitions - she is very insulting on those terms. I am glad the Judge showed Wisdom on this - and I hope it stays that way. Madonna is ruthless and left many used-abused people on the trail behind her - bad fortune follows wherever she lands - that is why she wants to bolster her image with the purchase of another African Child. If she cared one iota for Africa and African Peoples - she could afford to just give over $20 million - and fly in a few times every year to help MANY People - thus adopting them with her heart and gestures-and thereby gain the real love and respect of MILLIONS. She loves money. She loves power. She is too small for an idea like that. So, for Africa to provide world press with a headline that says : Judge says NO MERCY for Madonna - is a great and Godlike gesture. Eve - a white woman from London - Profession : Education/ fringe theatre.

Author: afric35
Fri Apr 3 15:22:58 2009

Omugabe yeah right who in their right mind will send money to a bunch of corrupt Africans and well Malawi is all over the news for stealing money yeah I will put a check in the mail tomorrow, LOL do not hold your breath see I live here and know your ways very well. If you are able to take care of your own children then why are you wanting the West to send money to raise them????? No you fool corrupt people as yourself want the money not to help the children but to help yourselves go get a job and earn your money and stop begging the rest of the world to take care of you because you are lazy. I am not saying this child should be adopted by Madonna by no means but people such as yourself well is just sad... All you are doing is name calling then holding out your hand and begging for money from the West do not wait too long...

Author: afric35
Fri Apr 3 15:28:24 2009

Omugabe you just said the same thing your had already said earlier and who said anything as treating African children like animals but you, but all over the world people adopt children, many because they are unable to have their own children but whatever the reason you are clueless and your comment proves your ignorance and hatred toward whites. You alone destabilize your own countries so trust me I watch it daily you do not need any help from the West to do that. By the way yes I am repeating myself here GET A JOB AND STOP BEGGING THE WEST TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAZY BUM!

Author: Just_legal
Thu Apr 16 16:03:09 2009

Please, please, please, to all of you, have you ever been in Malawi? Do you know how many frail grand mothers that are looking after grand children left being by their parents gone forever, and how many of these are out their in almost every village in Malawi? How many orphanages that are dotted across Malawi with few resources, nor some one to show love to these kids or do you know Malawi as a country and the people, the poverty in this small country?

I am a Malawian who was brought to North America in 1985 by a Canadian Samaritan, received education via a an individual sponsorship. When I left Malawi my future was absolutely questionable, example would be all my friends I left behind who are all diseased and all my brothers and relatives who as well mostly at my age are about 95% gone. Majority left children behind being looked after by grand parents and relatives. I have responsibility of 16 children that I send to school as I am writing. Without the opportunity I received by way of the education and the opportunity to reside and work in North America, I am not sure what would have happened to these kids. For the first time in 11 years I went to visit Malawi just December 2008 came back January this year; what I saw was desperation and poverty that was a cultural shock to me, partly is my ascent from the country for too long. I witnessed with my own eyes what I said in the first paragraph within my own immediate family, extended family and every village I visited and every where I went.

Despite your dislike of Madonna or her past or what the media portray her, understand the reality of the landscape or the fabric of Malawi. The point is, if there were bid star or wealthy people like Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, this Malawi we are talking about along with other poor countries, the world would be a better place for all. One must understand that since Madonna landed in Malawi, she has invested her own resources, millions raised funds for Malawi, has build shelters and establish education institution, these contributions has given opportunity for employment that is very much needed in a country where there is about 80% unemployment.

Why are you so critical of Madonna to what she is doing, what about these others I mentioned above? Is it because of Malawi as a country...!

Malawi people are extremely hard working people but there are no jobs

Author: catawba1
Tue Mar 31 02:20:37 2009

If I were some kid in an orphanage, I'd want pretty much anybody to adopt me, regardless of the color of their skin or their culture. However, like most people, Madonna just makes me sick.

Author: D-Welz
Tue Mar 31 02:49:07 2009

I am a celebrity and I want to adopt a poor African child. But why are people so repulsed? http://africa-onecountryaweek.blogspot.com/

I got to thinking about this issue a few days ago after reading a status message on a friend’s Facebook page that read, “I'm not sure how I feel about this whole "I'm so rich I'm going to adopt a poor African child" thing.” Today another friend’s read, “Madonna: please leave the African orphans alone..you worthless attention seeker, u are doing the world no good with your publicity stunts..clean up ur marital mess before bringing innocent african kids into ur home...”

Some people, at least a few of my friends, have a basic knee-jerk repulsive reaction, or as some ethicists have described, “yuck factor ” response to the news of Madonna wanting to adopt yet another poor African orphan. With the media flurry fanning flames of controversy, we itch for glimpses into the many unanswered and unanswerable questions. What is Madonna true motive? Is she simply yearning for some attention? Does she really care? The list of questions is unending. However, the bottom line is that we find it difficult to shake the thoughts of imbalance of power, class, socioeconomic and racial categories that the scenario evokes. Madonna, a rich white western celebrity wants to adopt a poor black African orphan.

The yuckiness expressed by my two friends, both of African decent, is most certainly not universal. I suspect the initial reaction people have to this scenario is dictated by what side of this divide they most relate with. I think exploring the reasons for our initial responses in greater depth and considering empirical information may lead to reconsidering our previously held positions.

Here are some simple basic facts. There are millions of orphan in Africa today, many of whom have lost both parents. The traditional systems of families and communities taking on the responsibility for orphans have in recent times been threatened by the HIV/AIDS. Millions of children are left alone to care for themselves and siblings, and some are privileged to be housed in orphanages. Orphanages are usually under-resourced, understaffed and teeming with children. I need not continue spouting statistics and cliches; but my point is that the reality for so many children is life in despicable situations. Some would say, "But can such children not have some level of happiness and satisfaction in their lives?" They absolutely can; the human spirit has a way of making do with whatever life/fate brings.

However, I have a very difficult time justifying depriving such a child of a chance of having a better life. I think having the luxury of stable meals, attention of care givers, and education, to say the least, qualifies as a 'better life.' Adoption is the least terrible of the few options available to these children. Irrespective of the dodgy motives of Madonna or any other adopting parent, I think the best interest of the child should be the ultimate trump card.

I am certainly not advocating for the removal of kids from poor families simply because they would have a better life in a richer one. The calculation is, however, a whole lot simpler when you talk of orphans with virtually no other options.

http://africa-onecountryaweek.blogspot.com/

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