Madonna's 'adopted son' remains in Malawi
Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have jetted out of Malawi after gaining preliminary custody of a one-year-old boy they want to adopt in an apparently streamlined procedure that sparked criticism from a child protection organisation.
In a statement later, Madonnaâs spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg confirmed the adoption plans, but said one-year-old David did not leave with Madonna and Guy Ritchie on Friday because final legal arrangements were still being made.
Malawian officials also said the childâs departure had been delayed for procedural reasons, and that he was being cared for in the meantime by members of Madonnaâs entourage who stayed behind.
In raising questions about the adoption, Boniface Mandere of Eye of the Child emphasised his child protection organisation was not against international adoption or Madonna helping a child in a country where many faced lives of disease, hunger and premature death.
Malawi is one of the worldâs poorest countries, devastated by Aids and periodic drought.
But âwhat Eye of the Child was saying is: You cannot buy a child as if you are buying a house,â Mandere said. âThis process is too short, applying on Tuesday, and yesterday the court gave the OK. I donât think that the High Court has any information about how Madonna is when it comes to child-rearing.â
âWe are concerned that the High Court has taken a short cut and waived the law. We are registering our concern and will seek clarification from the court, after which we will decide what action to take.â
He said Malawiâs laws did not allow international adoption unless the parents lived in the country for a year, during which social welfare workers investigate their ability to care for a child.
Malawian officials had indicated earlier that adoption regulations would be eased for Madonna and Ritchie, but refused to elaborate.
Madonnaâs private plane had departed for an undisclosed destination just before 2am local time on Friday.
Madonna and Ritchie have a son, Rocco, five, and the singer also has a daughter, Lourdes, nine.
Davidâs father, Yohame Banda, said he was pleased the celebrity couple wanted his son, whose mother died just after childbirth. He said he met with them at court during the filing procedures.
âThey are a lovely couple,â Banda said. âShe asked me many questions. She and her husband seem happy with David. I am happy for him. Madonna promised me that as the child grows she will bring him back to visit.â
Madonnaâs charity Raising Malawi is setting up an orphan care centre to provide food, education and shelter for up to 4,000 children. It will have projects based on Kabbalah, Judaismâs mystical sect, which counts the 48-year-old singer among its devotees.
In an open letter to Madonna, Eye of the Child had questioned whether foreign adoptions were in the best interests of children.
But Mirriam Nyirongo, a retired nurse who runs an orphanage in the northern Malawian town of Mzuzu, said: âWe must be frank. We canât afford to look after the thousands of babies that are being orphaned every day.
âIf rich people like Madonna take just one child it will be a major boost for Malawi. For people like Baby David, when they come to know their roots, might wish to do the same for others.â