Star in Malawi 'to adopt child'
2006-10-04 12:45
Blantyre - Madonna arrived in Malawi on Wednesday on a humanitarian mission to help orphans and the underprivileged in the impoverished southern African nation.
The pop star and an entourage of 10 people landed on a private plane in the capital, Lilongwe, just after 07:00 GMT. The visit had not been announced.
Andrina Mchiela, secretary to the minister for gender and child welfare, said Madonna planned to adopt a Malawian child during her visit.
She is also meant to fund six projects to benefit underprivileged children, including setting up an orphanage.
Madonna earlier this year announced plans to raise at least $3m for programmes to support the nearly one million children in Malawi who have lost parents to Aids.
Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world, hit by years of drought as well as an Aids pandemic.
Madonna joins a growing list of stars who have focused their attention on Africa, the world's poorest continent, including Bono, Angelina Jolie and George Clooney.
- SAPA