Malawian official supports Madonna's adoption plan
Official backs Madonna's bid to adopt second Malawian child
Also In The News
|
Twenty-one-year-old Rocky Andrews has become the second contestant fired from the new series of The Apprentice. |  |
Thursday, 02, Apr 2009 05:15
Madonna's bid to adopt a second child from Malawi has the backing of a high-ranking government official.
The Material Girl arrived in Africa earlier this week to finalise the adoption of Chifundo James, four, whose name translates as Mercy in English.
Though she adopted David Banda from Malawi in 2006, the 50-year-old singer has been criticised by human rights and children's groups over the potential disruption to Mercy's life.
However, information minister Patricia Kaliati offered her support to Madonna over the adoption, which is expected to be confirmed this weekend.
"Madonna has been good to us," Ms Kaliati told the Reuters news agency.
"Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process."
She added: "[Madonna] is supporting over 25,000 orphans in this country and she has proved that she can take care of David."
Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg stressed this week the singer is not contravening any Malawian laws in her attempt to adopt Mercy.
"She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child and is looking to provide a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible for a child who has been in an orphanage since her birth," said Liz Rosenberg earlier this week.
Madonna is the biological mother to Lourdes, 12, whose father is Carlos Leon and eight-year-old Rocco, her son with ex-husband Guy Ritchie.