Madonna's Malawian adoption could crumble

Tuesday, August 07, 2007
He's been in her care for nine months, but singer Madonna might soon have to part with her Malawian son David Banda.

The news came as Penstone Kilembe, director of Malawi's Ministry of Child Welfare overseeing the adoption was banned by his government from travelling to the UK, where he was to spend a week with the couple to determine if they were fit parents.

Kilembe's trip to the UK was cancelled after Kate Kainja, the Minister of Women and Child Development, accused him of obtaining an air ticket to London and money from Madonna herself without the Malawi government's approval.

Ms Kainja told the newspaper Malawi News that by taking the air ticket and money from Madonna, Mr Kilembe had compromised his neutrality. She revealed that the singer had been informed that someone other than Kilembe would now be travelling to the UK for the home study, reports the Daily Mail.

"We have already contacted Madonna that someone else and not Kilembe will come to assess her, because we feel Mr Kilembe personalised the whole issue when other people can go," the Minister told the Malawi News.

Mr Kilembe has also confirmed the cancellation of the UK trip, and said that the decision not to send him could see the adoption process 'crumble'. He denied that he personally asked Madge for a plane ticket.

"What this means is that the whole adoption process may crumble and David is sent back to his village," he said.