Malawi: Madonna appeals case in May

  1. Posted on Tuesday 21 April 2009 - 11:14
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    Sam Banda Jnr, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    US pop singer Madonna's appeal case of adopting a second child in Malawi Mercy Chifundo James will be held on May 4. Three judges of the country's Supreme Court are expected to hear the appeal case on May 4 to overturn a High Court ruling that ruled that she cannot adopt Mercy. Modonna is not expected to appear.
    madonna_malawi_no_copyright
    The High Court in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe earlier this month rejected Madonna’s wish to adopt Mercy citing among others that she did not fulfill the requirement in the Adoptions of Children Act of 18 months residency and foster care.

    The Judge Esmie Chombo also said that there was no evidence that the four year old Mercy was not being looked after well at the orphanage.

    Madonna’s lawyer Allan Chinula who filed the appeal just after the ruling, was quoted by Malawi’s local daily, The Daily Times, as saying that he had been given the date of May 4.

    But Chinula did not disclose the grounds of the appeal. Mercy was set to become a sister to David Banda who was adopted controversially in 2006.

    David now three years old, was also adopted at an orphanage in the southern African country’s central region district of Mchinji.

    However human rights organisations dragged Madonna to court before she won the case.

    Madonna was quoted recently in Malawi’s Nation on Sunday as saying that she wants to adopt Mercy in order to provide her with a home and a loving family environment.

    "I want to provide Mercy with a home, a loving family environment and the best education and healthcare possible. And it's my hope that she, like David, will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country," Madonna said.

    Human rights organisations said before Madonna’s second adoption hearing that they would not stand in the singer’s way but asked her to follow adoption procedures.

    While some quarters have criticized Madonna for using her wealth and celebrity status to adopt children in Malawi, others have supported her efforts saying the southern African country has millions of orphans.

    The country is reported to have about one million orphans due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

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