20100412
AFRICA NEWS

The family of Chifundo (Mercy) James, a girl US Pop star Madonna adopted in Malawi, said they are angry with the singer because they were not informed that she was coming with the child. John Banda, a distant uncle to the child, said they heard the news in the media.

He said Mercy was not given a chance to re-unite with her relatives.

“We still take the four-year-old Mercy as part of our community. She is our daughter and child. When we said yes to the adoption, we did not mean that she is completely sold off. She still needs to know where she belongs and our culture should be instilled in her,” he said.

He said this is not what Madonna said when adopting the child.

“She promised to be bringing them back so that they understand their roots. But today we are just hearing from you that she was in the country last week with the child. May be she wants her to forget where her parents are,” said an emotional Banda.

Banda claims that an existing understanding stipulates that the family would be informed each time Mercy was coming to Malawi and that they will be given a chance to see the child.

“Now she is doing to the contrary. We gave her Mercy not that we did not want her, we were concerned of her future. It is our hope that next time she comes we will be able to meet our child,” he said.

The Pop singer adopted Mercy in 2009 at Kondanani orphanage center.

Mercy’s adoption faced resistance from James Kambewa, who claimed to be the girl’s father. Madonna was in the country last week with her two daughters Mercy and Loudes.