Madonna: I still want to adopt Mercy from Malawi

Madonna has said she’s still interested in adopting from Malawi, despite being turned down at the start of this month month.

The singer’s request to adopt four year old Mercy James was turned down by Malawi’s High Court because the judge ruled that Madonna hadn’t met the residency requirement for international adoptions. Madonna is said to have surprised and devastated by the decision - but has now told the country’s The Nation newspaper that she’s not giving up and her lawyer Alan Chinula has lodged an appeal.

She explained: “I want to provide Mercy with a home, a loving family environment and the best education and healthcare possible.

“And it’s my hope that she, like [previously adopted son] David, will one day return to Malawi and help the people of their country.

“Though I’ve been advised that I cannot publicly discuss the pending appeal regarding my desire to adopt Mercy, I do want to say how much I appreciate the level of support I have received from the people of Malawi and my friends around the world.”

In related news, the little girl in question Mercy is believed to have gone into hiding with a member of staff from her orphanage, after a man claiming to be her biological father came forward.

Mercy was sent to the Kondanani children’s home after her mum died in childbirth and the man said to be her father, James Kambewa, refused to support her. Now though Kambewa has come forward and has spent the last week trying to meet with the little girl.

Mercy’s paternal grandfather Saxon Maunde is quoted as saying: “We cannot believe this boy is coming forward like this. We are very suspicious of his reasons, especially as he has caused our family so much heartbreak in the past.

“When my precious daughter became pregnant we were so disappointed with her. She had been doing well at school and we had to take her away from her studies.

“There was disgrace for us in the pregnancy, but this boy could have made things acceptable by marrying her and taking responsibility. Instead, he denied he was the father. He was a coward who ran away.

“When our daughter died after Mercy was born, this wretched boy sent no message of condolence. He is the last person we want to see now.”

Madonna’s legal team has said they “will not entertain [Kambewa’s] claims” that he has any claim over the little girl.