Dad may see Madonna's son
2007-04-14 22:16
Mchinji - The Malawian father of a toddler adopted eights month ago by US pop diva Madonna may re-unite with his son at an orphanage here on Sunday, residents said.
"We were told not to say anything to visitors, but we know Madonna is coming here with the adopted son David who will meet his biological father on Sunday", said Wedson Phiri, a worker at Home of Hope in Mchinji, 110 kilometres from the administrative capital Lilongwe.
Madonna, who is still waiting for a final legal process to fully adopt David Banda, is expected to arrive in the poor southern African nation on Sunday, to continue her charity work of constructing several orphanages.
"We have been busy sprucing up the orphanage preparing for this important visitor and all arrangements are being finalised," Phiri said on Saturday, with a shovel in hand, clearing grass at the gate of the centre.
Cosmas Namoyo, a local resident who runs a shop near the centre, said he had spoken on Friday to the father, Yohane, who told him he would re-unite with his son.
"He seemed to be happy that he will see his son again after eight months," Namoyo said.
He said the orphanage, which houses 500 children and is nestled on a big piece of land at the foot of Mchinji mountain, was being spruced up since the past few days, with all rooms given a fresh coat of paint.
"They have bought new mattresses and uniforms for the orphans," he said, adding that he closely follows ties between the centre and Madonna.
Another orphanage funded by the singer's charity, built at Mphandula village, 50 kilometres from Lilongwe, will be officially handed over on Monday, Yacinta Chapomba, a director of local charity Consol Homes, said.
"Madonna is just a major donor, but on Monday there will be the hand-over of keys of the centre," she told AFP, adding that she was not sure whether this would be done by Madonna herself.
Madonna was last year granted an 18-month interim order by the high court to take David out of Malawi, sparking a heated debate about adoption laws in a country where the number of orphans is surging as a result of Aids.
David now lives with Madonna and her British filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie.
- AFP