Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Madonna in bid to adopt Malawian twins aged 4
LONDON: Madonna is reportedly trying to adopt fouryear- old twin sisters from Malawi.
The 58-year-old singer was said to have applied for custody of the orphan girls, named Stella and Esther, at the High Court in the country’s capital, Lilongwe.
It comes after the motherof-four denied she was in the country to adopt any more children, insisting she was only there to visit a children’s hospital and her charity.
The pop star has previously adopted two Malawian children, David Banda, 11, and Mercy Jones, 13.
Yesterday, government welfare spokesperson Lucy Bandazi said: “The necessary paperwork is before the High Court and they will make the ultimate decision if the adoption can go ahead.”
Stella and Esther have lived together in an orphanage for the last two years.
Court spokesperson Mlenga Mvula made it clear that Madonna would not be receiving any special treatment, regardless of her fame.
He said: “Just because she is famous it does not mean procedures will be overlooked.”
Earlier this week, Madonna tried to quash adoption claims after being spotted at the court.
In a statement, she said: “I am in Malawi to check on the children’s hospital in Blantyre and my other work with Raising Malawi, and then heading home.”
In 2006, she faced criticism when she adopted David from the Hope Orphan Care Centre in the village of Mchinji.
Malawi’s Human Rights Commission argued that the adoption was illegal because the singer had not been in the country for at least 18 months, and thereby did not qualify for resident status.
Madonna said she was in the country for 10 days promoting charitable causes at the time.
She also has a daughter, Lourdes, 20, and a son, Rocco, 16, from previous relationships.
Madonna’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the claims. – Daily Mail