Star in Malawi land dispute

MALAWI’S government has backed Madonna in a land dispute with villagers.

Villagers refused to leave, delaying work on Madonna’s $15m (€11,008) girls’ school just outside Lilongwe, the capital.

Lilongwe District Commissioner Charles Kalemba told 200 villagers the government land had been handed over to Madonna. The villagers were offered other land.

Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, who will be principal, said Madonna paid the villagers more than €84,000.

Amos Mkuyu said he is unhappy with the €1,100 he got from Madonna. But he said villagers won’t be able to fight the state.