Madonna's Malawian Adoption: Appeal to The Supreme Court

[glittercandy]

I don't think she should appeal anymore, she should just go home, the judge and the court have something personal against her, most likely jealousy. If she gets turned down on appeal which is most likely, that will be awful and embarassing.

I just feel bad for the little girl, she looks so sad in the pics I've seen. Orphanage is a life of misery.

[Nikki]

Sorry if I missed this....but, does anyone know when the second hearing will take place? I hope it's soon!!

I read somewhere next week...

[Voguerista]

Thanks Nikki!!!

[Gus]

I don't think she should appeal anymore, she should just go home, the judge and the court have something personal against her, most likely jealousy. If she gets turned down on appeal which is most likely, that will be awful and embarassing.

I just feel bad for the little girl, she looks so sad in the pics I've seen. Orphanage is a life of misery.

I strongly disagree! Why should it be embarassing for her???She's doing this out of love, she's trying to save this child's life...shame on this judge and those right activists or whatever.

[glittercandy]

I strongly disagree! Why should it be embarassing for her???She's doing this out of love, she's trying to save this child's life...shame on this judge and those right activists or whatever.

The media who has been bashing her, will have a field day. I know she doesn't care what they say.

[Guest Pud Whacker]

trip on madonna and tell her what you do after you watch a little of what she has seen and realized.

you all can watch the entire film - i am because we are - here:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/64450/i-am-because-we-are

[loomer]

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"You got me begging you for Mercy!"

Ugh. Yes. That's ALL I've had stuck in my head since this whole thing. I bet it must be a song Madonna's been aware of recently too!

[Camacho]

Huffington Report:

Playa Hatin' on Madonna

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

Posted April 4, 2009 | 01:23 PM (EST)

Let's cut the bull. The issue is not Mercy James. That's the four year old Malawian orphan girl who Madonna wants to adopt. The issue is Madonna. Whether their motive is revulsion, disgust, secret wish fulfillment, sexism, or just plain, garden variety envy, legions just flat out loathe Madonna. Or in the street vernacular, there's a thriving growth industry in playa hatin' on Madonna.

This writer became painfully aware of that after my piece "Madonna Deserves Cheers not Jeers for casting the ugly glare on Africa's adoption misery" hit the web. The calls, letters, emails, and shots from Madonna's sex book, and her onstage at times sado-masochistic antics poured in. The idea was to remind me that Madonna is an ego maniacal, crotch grabbing, whacked out onstage porno and fast buck exhibitionist who no one with a shred of decency could possibly think could be a fit mother, especially a fit mother to a black kid.

The rants were against me, Madonna, and those Malawians who cheered Madonna; which by the way as every poll and survey has shown is just about everyone in Malawi from top officials down to the beggar on the street to Mercy's grandparents, relatives and caregivers. They all applaud Madonna for taking a personal and humanitarian interest in Malawi's one million orphans.

The Madonna playa haters are absolutely unfazed by the millions of dollars that she has raised for her Raise Malawi organization. They pooh pooh the international attention that she's brought to a country that ranks near dead last on nearly every social and economic measure for developing countries. This is a country which nearly all the Madonna loathers thought was another way of saying Malarky, hadn't heard of and couldn't find on a map before Madonna tossed the spotlight on the dire poverty in the country. The haters air brush off Madonna's plans to bankroll a school for orphan girls in the country.

They wave away the reminder that Madonna, outside of President Obama, is the most over-exposed celebrity on the planet and hardly needs to snatch away an African orphan to get some cheap pub. They turn the tinniest ear to this rejoinder; OK, so other than yap that Madonna has turned Africa into what the hater's brand a rich closet bigotted white woman's plaything, have you contributed money, written letters to elected officials, volunteered to work with relief agencies, or tried to sponsor an African orphan?

Madonna's brash, sassy, and high energy in your face style and persona has long sent the clear message that she was her own woman. She turned sensuality into a badge of fierce independence and pride, the trademark of defiance.This has always sent the pack of Madonna haters spinning into orbit. The issue is not and never has been Madonna and Malawi's orphans. The issue is and always will be Madonna. It's a playa hater's delight.

[Guest Pud Whacker]

love it hec.

[Alexz]

[Guest BytheBay]

wow that's really tacky

[Guest Pud Whacker]

the media are terrible and ugly towards madonna as written in what hec posted. shes so strong and her exterior is but inside, anyone would be hurting hard. the kids, everyone. very sad.

[Guest jamesshot]

People are rejoicing at this decision because they feel this is payback for all her "in your face" antics she has done in her career. So disgusting anyone would feel this way when a child's life is involved.

[Nightshade]

People are rejoicing at this decision because they feel this is payback for all her "in your face" antics she has done in her career. So disgusting anyone would feel this way when a child's life is involved.

Well, it's my experience that shameful joy like that never has an intended effect on Madonna. Those types of feelings usually hurt the person expressing them more than they do the target - they're just dogs chasing their tails.

[Gus]

The media who has been bashing her, will have a field day. I know she doesn't care what they say.

Yeah you're right about that...but that still doesn't make it embarassing for her, i think she's doing something great, certainly more than you or me or any of these so called reporters are doing to help these kids.

I just read that this kid's mom died a few days after giving birth to her, she was only 14 years old...that is terrible.

I would like to know how everyone(from the media to this judge), will feel if in 1, 2, 3 or 4 years we find out that this child died alone in that orphanage...who is going to feel embarassed then?

And regarding your last sentence, you know what? I think she cares...

[Camacho]

bostonherald.com

Madonna prepares party in Malawi

By Associated Press

Saturday, April 4, 2009 - Added 6h ago

LILONGWE, Malawi — Madonna is apparently throwing a party in Malawi in a bid to swallow her disappointment that a judge rejected her application to adopt a young orphan.

Traditional dancers have arrived at the luxury lodge where the pop diva is staying, as well as government officials and members of staff of her Raising Malawi charity.

Amid strict security, there was no immediate confirmation on whether it was a farewell party.

Air traffic control authorities granted clearance for Madonna’s jet to depart Saturday but the star stayed in the lodge all day. Her lawyer has said she will appeal against Friday’s judgment that she could not adopt a 3-year-old girl because she had not been resident in Malawi.

[Camacho]

Daily Mirror

We find dad of tot Mercy James, who Madonna wants to adopt

WORLD EXCLUSIVE by Thomas Chafunya in Malawi and Nick Owens 4/04/2009

And James Kambewa warns the pop star 'hands off I'm going to raise her'

Madonna's hopes of adopting “orphan” Mercy James were dealt another major blow last night when the Sunday Mirror tracked down a man who claims to be the child’s long-lost father.

James Kambewa, speaking exclusively to our reporter, insisted: “She is my daughter and I want her to live with me.”

Authorities in Malawi had always believed the three-year-old was an orphan and had failed to find her father. But we traced him to a remote village 100 miles from the capital Lilongwe where Mercy is being cared for in a luxury hotel.

Now, 24-year-old James is determined to prove he is the biological dad by taking a DNA test – and is desperate to meet his daughter for the first time.

In a bombshell interview James told how he was made to believe Mercy had died along with her mother during childbirth.

He is demanding to meet Madonna face-to-face after discovering she is trying to adopt three-year-old Mercy. And James will tell the superstar that his daughter must remain in Malawi with him.

Security guard James, 24, said: “Discovering my daughter is alive is a miracle. Now I call on all my countrymen to help me have my child. I will take a DNA test and appear in court to prove Mercy is my child. I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

He added: “I bear no grudge against Madonna. But I am Mercy’s father and I want her to stay with me. God will take care of us.”

His determination to care for his daughter leaves Madonna’s hopes of adopting the child in tatters.

The 50-year-old singer was planning to appeal last week’s shock decision by Malawian judge Esme Chombo to block her adoption of Mercy.

The adoption application was thrown out on the grounds that prospective parents must be resident in Malawi for 18 to 24 months before adopting. Authorities in Malawi had always believed both Mercy’s mother and father had died.

But the Sunday Mirror can reveal that in the last 48 hours Madonna’s aides have been told of James’s claims to be Mercy’s dad and asked to meet him.

However, he will tell the star he wants her to end her bid to adopt Mercy. “I will tell her that I have heard about her good work but Mercy has a father now.

“I will say she is welcome to come and see Mercy whenever she likes. But I will make it plain that my daughter will be staying in Malawi with me.”

And revealing what he will say when he is finally reunited with Mercy, James said: “When I meet her I will say, ‘Lord forgive me for abandoning you’.

“There is no substitute for a parent’s love and I want to care for her. I have not had the chance before. But now I want to be a good father to my daughter.”

James was just 21 and Mercy’s mum 15 when she fell pregnant. Being young and without money, he panicked and after a series of family rows he fled – a decision he now regrets.

We tracked James down after Mercy’s grandmother Che Maunde, who is opposed to the adoption, passed on his name.

It led our investigators to a remote village 100 miles from Lilongwe, in east Malawi where James works as a security guard earning £100 a year.

In a moving interview, James told how weeks earlier he had learned his daughter was alive at the Kondanani Children’s Orphanage – and Madonna wanted to adopt her.

He said: “I don’t want her to live with Madonna, I want her to be with me. Until now everyone thought Mercy had no father but she has, and I will do anything to prove to the courts that I am her dad and that she should remain with me.”

James claims that he met Mercy’s mum Mwandida four years ago when he moved 100 miles from his native remote village Salima to Zomba, in southern Malawi.

Then aged 21, he was introduced to Mwandida at a market place by friends and they began a relationship. Mwandida fell pregnant aged 15 and it led to a series of rows with her family.

They were furious Mwandida and James had been so irresponsible. Mwandida’s mum Che Maunde was particularly angry and demanded the pair marry if they wanted to raise the child together.

James denied being responsible and it led to a furious final bust which saw him return to Salima.

James said: “I was afraid when Mwandida became pregnant that I wouldn’t be able to care for the baby and her mum so I denied responsibility. I was young and foolish and I shouldn’t have acted in that way. I wish I hadn’t.”

Days after Mercy was born on January 26, 2006 James was told by a friend who was still in touch with Mwandida’s family that she had died giving birth. The friend said he heard that her baby had died too.

James said: “There were so many conflicting messages regarding what had happened to the baby that I didn’t know what to believe. But many people told me both Mercy and Mwandida had died so I thought this was the case.”

Months later James’s best friend Paul Likaomba, who lived in a village near Mwandida’s relatives, said he understood Mercy was alive and in an orphanage.

James said: “I prayed long and hard to find the courage to find her. But in Malawi many children are in orphanages.

“I am not a rich man and I lived a long way from Mercy. I was worried. I’d have had to take months away from work to find her and I couldn’t afford to leave my job.”

James said he was stunned when he was told that the child Madonna was trying to adopt was in fact his daughter.

He added: “All of a sudden I realised the daughter I believed was dead was alive and that she might be taken away from me forever.

“When I found out she had been living in an orphanage I felt bad because I had rejected her. I realised I should have done more to be there for her and to be a father to her.

“But now I feel like I have been given a second chance and I will not let Mercy down again. I can’t afford to abandon her twice.”

As James made his extraordinary claim, Mercy was believed to be holed up at Kumbali Lodge, the exclusive location where Madonna and her three children have been staying in Malawi. She is thought to have bonded well with Madonna’s kids, Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and three-year-old David Banda, whom the star adopted in Malawi last year.

“We’re all in shock over this,” said a Malawi official. “Madonna’s children, especially Lourdes, were getting used to her.”

The source added that Madonna has instructed her staff not to break the news of the unexpected court decision to the children. The singer had her private jet on standby yesterday to fly out of Malawi. But she is now expected to stay on to try to win custody of Mercy. Sources say the fact James has come forward could even be good news for Madonna.

One source said: “If Madonna can persuade Mercy’s father that she will have a better life with her than in Malawi then perhaps the courts will take a different view.”

And James’s sister Alice Bandawe is believed to support Madonna’s bid for adoption, saying the child would have a better life with the multi-millionairess.

Meanwhile, Madonna yesterday lodged an official appeal in Malawi’s Supreme Court of Appeal against Friday’s High Court decision to block the adoption. Madonna’s lawyer Alan Chinula said: “I have just filed notice for the appeal and we are working on our grounds for this.”

The Malawian court decision stunned Madonna. The rule on having to live in Malawi for at least 18 months was waived when she adopted David Banda in 2006 when she was married to film director Guy Ritchie.

And it had been expected the adoption of Mercy would go equally as smoothly. But Judge Chombo was critical of celebrity adoptions and said ignoring the residency rules could lead to child-trafficking.

Throwing out the application she said: “Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect.”

Last night Madonna went ahead with a party at her luxury Malawian lodge to help her over the disappointment. Traditional dancers were seen arriving and government officials and people working for the Raising Malawi charity were invited.

news@sundaymirror.co.uk

[glittercandy]

This story gets worse, if he cares so much for his daughter why was she left alone in an orphanage?

He's probably looking to cash in somehow.

[Guest Pud Whacker]

Daily Mirror

We find dad of tot Mercy James, who Madonna wants to adopt

WORLD EXCLUSIVE by Thomas Chafunya in Malawi and Nick Owens 4/04/2009

And James Kambewa warns the pop star 'hands off I'm going to raise her'

Madonna's hopes of adopting "orphan" Mercy James were dealt another major blow last night when the Sunday Mirror tracked down a man who claims to be the child's long-lost father.

James Kambewa, speaking exclusively to our reporter, insisted: "She is my daughter and I want her to live with me."

Authorities in Malawi had always believed the three-year-old was an orphan and had failed to find her father. But we traced him to a remote village 100 miles from the capital Lilongwe where Mercy is being cared for in a luxury hotel.

Now, 24-year-old James is determined to prove he is the biological dad by taking a DNA test – and is desperate to meet his daughter for the first time.

In a bombshell interview James told how he was made to believe Mercy had died along with her mother during childbirth.

He is demanding to meet Madonna face-to-face after discovering she is trying to adopt three-year-old Mercy. And James will tell the superstar that his daughter must remain in Malawi with him.

Security guard James, 24, said: "Discovering my daughter is alive is a miracle. Now I call on all my countrymen to help me have my child. I will take a DNA test and appear in court to prove Mercy is my child. I am willing to do whatever it takes."

He added: "I bear no grudge against Madonna. But I am Mercy's father and I want her to stay with me. God will take care of us."

His determination to care for his daughter leaves Madonna's hopes of adopting the child in tatters.

The 50-year-old singer was planning to appeal last week's shock decision by Malawian judge Esme Chombo to block her adoption of Mercy.

The adoption application was thrown out on the grounds that prospective parents must be resident in Malawi for 18 to 24 months before adopting. Authorities in Malawi had always believed both Mercy's mother and father had died.

But the Sunday Mirror can reveal that in the last 48 hours Madonna's aides have been told of James's claims to be Mercy's dad and asked to meet him.

However, he will tell the star he wants her to end her bid to adopt Mercy. "I will tell her that I have heard about her good work but Mercy has a father now.

"I will say she is welcome to come and see Mercy whenever she likes. But I will make it plain that my daughter will be staying in Malawi with me."

And revealing what he will say when he is finally reunited with Mercy, James said: "When I meet her I will say, 'Lord forgive me for abandoning you'.

"There is no substitute for a parent's love and I want to care for her. I have not had the chance before. But now I want to be a good father to my daughter."

James was just 21 and Mercy's mum 15 when she fell pregnant. Being young and without money, he panicked and after a series of family rows he fled – a decision he now regrets.

We tracked James down after Mercy's grandmother Che Maunde, who is opposed to the adoption, passed on his name.

It led our investigators to a remote village 100 miles from Lilongwe, in east Malawi where James works as a security guard earning £100 a year.

In a moving interview, James told how weeks earlier he had learned his daughter was alive at the Kondanani Children's Orphanage – and Madonna wanted to adopt her.

He said: "I don't want her to live with Madonna, I want her to be with me. Until now everyone thought Mercy had no father but she has, and I will do anything to prove to the courts that I am her dad and that she should remain with me."

James claims that he met Mercy's mum Mwandida four years ago when he moved 100 miles from his native remote village Salima to Zomba, in southern Malawi.

Then aged 21, he was introduced to Mwandida at a market place by friends and they began a relationship. Mwandida fell pregnant aged 15 and it led to a series of rows with her family.

They were furious Mwandida and James had been so irresponsible. Mwandida's mum Che Maunde was particularly angry and demanded the pair marry if they wanted to raise the child together.

James denied being responsible and it led to a furious final bust which saw him return to Salima.

James said: "I was afraid when Mwandida became pregnant that I wouldn't be able to care for the baby and her mum so I denied responsibility. I was young and foolish and I shouldn't have acted in that way. I wish I hadn't."

Days after Mercy was born on January 26, 2006 James was told by a friend who was still in touch with Mwandida's family that she had died giving birth. The friend said he heard that her baby had died too.

James said: "There were so many conflicting messages regarding what had happened to the baby that I didn't know what to believe. But many people told me both Mercy and Mwandida had died so I thought this was the case."

Months later James's best friend Paul Likaomba, who lived in a village near Mwandida's relatives, said he understood Mercy was alive and in an orphanage.

James said: "I prayed long and hard to find the courage to find her. But in Malawi many children are in orphanages.

"I am not a rich man and I lived a long way from Mercy. I was worried. I'd have had to take months away from work to find her and I couldn't afford to leave my job."

James said he was stunned when he was told that the child Madonna was trying to adopt was in fact his daughter.

He added: "All of a sudden I realised the daughter I believed was dead was alive and that she might be taken away from me forever.

"When I found out she had been living in an orphanage I felt bad because I had rejected her. I realised I should have done more to be there for her and to be a father to her.

"But now I feel like I have been given a second chance and I will not let Mercy down again. I can't afford to abandon her twice."

As James made his extraordinary claim, Mercy was believed to be holed up at Kumbali Lodge, the exclusive location where Madonna and her three children have been staying in Malawi. She is thought to have bonded well with Madonna's kids, Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and three-year-old David Banda, whom the star adopted in Malawi last year.

"We're all in shock over this," said a Malawi official. "Madonna's children, especially Lourdes, were getting used to her."

The source added that Madonna has instructed her staff not to break the news of the unexpected court decision to the children. The singer had her private jet on standby yesterday to fly out of Malawi. But she is now expected to stay on to try to win custody of Mercy. Sources say the fact James has come forward could even be good news for Madonna.

One source said: "If Madonna can persuade Mercy's father that she will have a better life with her than in Malawi then perhaps the courts will take a different view."

And James's sister Alice Bandawe is believed to support Madonna's bid for adoption, saying the child would have a better life with the multi-millionairess.

Meanwhile, Madonna yesterday lodged an official appeal in Malawi's Supreme Court of Appeal against Friday's High Court decision to block the adoption. Madonna's lawyer Alan Chinula said: "I have just filed notice for the appeal and we are working on our grounds for this."

The Malawian court decision stunned Madonna. The rule on having to live in Malawi for at least 18 months was waived when she adopted David Banda in 2006 when she was married to film director Guy Ritchie.

And it had been expected the adoption of Mercy would go equally as smoothly. But Judge Chombo was critical of celebrity adoptions and said ignoring the residency rules could lead to child-trafficking.

Throwing out the application she said: "Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect."

Last night Madonna went ahead with a party at her luxury Malawian lodge to help her over the disappointment. Traditional dancers were seen arriving and government officials and people working for the Raising Malawi charity were invited.

news@sundaymirror.co.uk

i mean really? shes 3 and now discovers her?

people cant win or lose here. if madonna went in unannounced and adopted she would have been accused of stealing. she goes in then reporters SPEND MONEY tracking down the father and grandmother to get stories?

wow.

well, im glad this little girls father has found her and can now care for her.

[Guest Pud Whacker]

This story gets worse, if he cares so much for his daughter why was she left alone in an orphanage?

He's probably looking to cash in somehow.

yeah, he will get a hundred bucks from the papers and then back to the orphanage she will go.

[moe]

yeah, he will get a hundred bucks from the papers and then back to the orphanage she will go.

Dont know whats worse him or Obama!

[Nightshade]

God, the UK MIRROR makes me fucking puke. This idiot abandons his daughter and "feels bad" about it, so now he's painted as a hero?

[Dannylex]

Daily Mirror

We find dad of tot Mercy James, who Madonna wants to adopt

WORLD EXCLUSIVE by Thomas Chafunya in Malawi and Nick Owens 4/04/2009

And James Kambewa warns the pop star 'hands off I'm going to raise her'

Madonna's hopes of adopting “orphan” Mercy James were dealt another major blow last night when the Sunday Mirror tracked down a man who claims to be the child’s long-lost father.

James Kambewa, speaking exclusively to our reporter, insisted: “She is my daughter and I want her to live with me.”

Authorities in Malawi had always believed the three-year-old was an orphan and had failed to find her father. But we traced him to a remote village 100 miles from the capital Lilongwe where Mercy is being cared for in a luxury hotel.

Now, 24-year-old James is determined to prove he is the biological dad by taking a DNA test – and is desperate to meet his daughter for the first time.

In a bombshell interview James told how he was made to believe Mercy had died along with her mother during childbirth.

He is demanding to meet Madonna face-to-face after discovering she is trying to adopt three-year-old Mercy. And James will tell the superstar that his daughter must remain in Malawi with him.

Security guard James, 24, said: “Discovering my daughter is alive is a miracle. Now I call on all my countrymen to help me have my child. I will take a DNA test and appear in court to prove Mercy is my child. I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

He added: “I bear no grudge against Madonna. But I am Mercy’s father and I want her to stay with me. God will take care of us.”

His determination to care for his daughter leaves Madonna’s hopes of adopting the child in tatters.

The 50-year-old singer was planning to appeal last week’s shock decision by Malawian judge Esme Chombo to block her adoption of Mercy.

The adoption application was thrown out on the grounds that prospective parents must be resident in Malawi for 18 to 24 months before adopting. Authorities in Malawi had always believed both Mercy’s mother and father had died.

But the Sunday Mirror can reveal that in the last 48 hours Madonna’s aides have been told of James’s claims to be Mercy’s dad and asked to meet him.

However, he will tell the star he wants her to end her bid to adopt Mercy. “I will tell her that I have heard about her good work but Mercy has a father now.

“I will say she is welcome to come and see Mercy whenever she likes. But I will make it plain that my daughter will be staying in Malawi with me.”

And revealing what he will say when he is finally reunited with Mercy, James said: “When I meet her I will say, ‘Lord forgive me for abandoning you’.

“There is no substitute for a parent’s love and I want to care for her. I have not had the chance before. But now I want to be a good father to my daughter.”

James was just 21 and Mercy’s mum 15 when she fell pregnant. Being young and without money, he panicked and after a series of family rows he fled – a decision he now regrets.

We tracked James down after Mercy’s grandmother Che Maunde, who is opposed to the adoption, passed on his name.

It led our investigators to a remote village 100 miles from Lilongwe, in east Malawi where James works as a security guard earning £100 a year.

In a moving interview, James told how weeks earlier he had learned his daughter was alive at the Kondanani Children’s Orphanage – and Madonna wanted to adopt her.

He said: “I don’t want her to live with Madonna, I want her to be with me. Until now everyone thought Mercy had no father but she has, and I will do anything to prove to the courts that I am her dad and that she should remain with me.”

James claims that he met Mercy’s mum Mwandida four years ago when he moved 100 miles from his native remote village Salima to Zomba, in southern Malawi.

Then aged 21, he was introduced to Mwandida at a market place by friends and they began a relationship. Mwandida fell pregnant aged 15 and it led to a series of rows with her family.

They were furious Mwandida and James had been so irresponsible. Mwandida’s mum Che Maunde was particularly angry and demanded the pair marry if they wanted to raise the child together.

James denied being responsible and it led to a furious final bust which saw him return to Salima.

James said: “I was afraid when Mwandida became pregnant that I wouldn’t be able to care for the baby and her mum so I denied responsibility. I was young and foolish and I shouldn’t have acted in that way. I wish I hadn’t.”

Days after Mercy was born on January 26, 2006 James was told by a friend who was still in touch with Mwandida’s family that she had died giving birth. The friend said he heard that her baby had died too.

James said: “There were so many conflicting messages regarding what had happened to the baby that I didn’t know what to believe. But many people told me both Mercy and Mwandida had died so I thought this was the case.”

Months later James’s best friend Paul Likaomba, who lived in a village near Mwandida’s relatives, said he understood Mercy was alive and in an orphanage.

James said: “I prayed long and hard to find the courage to find her. But in Malawi many children are in orphanages.

“I am not a rich man and I lived a long way from Mercy. I was worried. I’d have had to take months away from work to find her and I couldn’t afford to leave my job.”

James said he was stunned when he was told that the child Madonna was trying to adopt was in fact his daughter.

He added: “All of a sudden I realised the daughter I believed was dead was alive and that she might be taken away from me forever.

“When I found out she had been living in an orphanage I felt bad because I had rejected her. I realised I should have done more to be there for her and to be a father to her.

“But now I feel like I have been given a second chance and I will not let Mercy down again. I can’t afford to abandon her twice.”

As James made his extraordinary claim, Mercy was believed to be holed up at Kumbali Lodge, the exclusive location where Madonna and her three children have been staying in Malawi. She is thought to have bonded well with Madonna’s kids, Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and three-year-old David Banda, whom the star adopted in Malawi last year.

“We’re all in shock over this,” said a Malawi official. “Madonna’s children, especially Lourdes, were getting used to her.”

The source added that Madonna has instructed her staff not to break the news of the unexpected court decision to the children. The singer had her private jet on standby yesterday to fly out of Malawi. But she is now expected to stay on to try to win custody of Mercy. Sources say the fact James has come forward could even be good news for Madonna.

One source said: “If Madonna can persuade Mercy’s father that she will have a better life with her than in Malawi then perhaps the courts will take a different view.”

And James’s sister Alice Bandawe is believed to support Madonna’s bid for adoption, saying the child would have a better life with the multi-millionairess.

Meanwhile, Madonna yesterday lodged an official appeal in Malawi’s Supreme Court of Appeal against Friday’s High Court decision to block the adoption. Madonna’s lawyer Alan Chinula said: “I have just filed notice for the appeal and we are working on our grounds for this.”

The Malawian court decision stunned Madonna. The rule on having to live in Malawi for at least 18 months was waived when she adopted David Banda in 2006 when she was married to film director Guy Ritchie.

And it had been expected the adoption of Mercy would go equally as smoothly. But Judge Chombo was critical of celebrity adoptions and said ignoring the residency rules could lead to child-trafficking.

Throwing out the application she said: “Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect.”

Last night Madonna went ahead with a party at her luxury Malawian lodge to help her over the disappointment. Traditional dancers were seen arriving and government officials and people working for the Raising Malawi charity were invited.

news@sundaymirror.co.uk

:vomit:

[Guest Pud Whacker]

Dont know whats worse him or Obama!

listen to me, i just read this shyt and he spoke a fucking novels worth...this is just a little snippet -

James said: “I was afraid when Mwandida became pregnant that I wouldn’t be able to care for the baby and her mum so I denied responsibility. I was young and foolish and I shouldn’t have acted in that way. I wish I hadn’t.”

“There were so many conflicting messages regarding what had happened to the baby that I didn’t know what to believe. But many people told me both Mercy and Mwandida had died so I thought this was the case.” Months later James’s best friend Paul Likaomba, who lived in a village near Mwandida’s relatives, said he understood Mercy was alive and in an orphanage.

“I prayed long and hard to find the courage to find her. But in Malawi many children are in orphanages. “I am not a rich man and I lived a long way from Mercy. I was worried. I’d have had to take months away from work to find her and I couldn’t afford to leave my job.”

James said he was stunned when he was told that the child Madonna was trying to adopt was in fact his daughter.

He added: “All of a sudden I realised the daughter I believed was dead was alive and that she might be taken away from me forever.

“When I found out she had been living in an orphanage I felt bad because I had rejected her. I realised I should have done more to be there for her and to be a father to her.

“But now I feel like I have been given a second chance and I will not let Mercy down again. I can’t afford to abandon her twice.”

[MadFan]

WHAT? It just keeps getting better! I have NO idea how he could have gone so far away from his daughter that it would have taken him months to get back to her.

[peter]

http://music.msn.com/wonderwall/galleryfea...awi/?photoidx=6

According to this, her case is the FIRST adoption case of 2009. That ought to be an indicator -- one quarter through the year, and there hasn't even been ONE other adoption?!

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this document, but it appears Madonna *was* present. (Maybe this was just for presenting her case, and not for the ruling, though...)

[Bitch]

I knew it's only a matter of time until the Daily-Hate or other trash paper will hunt down the father. Of course now he wants to raise her/ say whatever the paper wants him to say.

And if it turns out that he's not the father, million of other Malawians will come forward claiming it's their child and will demand meeting Madonna as well, hoping she would give them money for letting her raise Mercy.

[elijah]

The "father" wants money, nothing more. You dont put your child in an orphanage just to remember it when Madonna tries to adopt it.

[Bitch]

It's repulsive and very dangerous what The Daily-Hate is doing. Unfortunately, there aren't any laws to prevent them from doing that.

[glittercandy]

Madonna's rage over Malawi adoption wrangle

By David Jeffs

DEVASTATED Madonna last night left Malawi raging:" I can't believe I'm leaving my beautiful baby behind."

The Queen of Pop let rip after losing a court battle to adopt a second African orphan.

Madonna, 50, told aides:" It's not right. I love that baby girl. I thought I'd be bringing her back today.

" She's my little girl - she needs to be with me." Madge is due to land at Heathrow later today with children Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and adopted Malawian David, three.

And she is expected to stay at her London home while her lawyers appeal against a judge's refusal to let her adopt little Mercy James.

The three-year-old had stayed with her at a lodge in Malawi during the court hearing.

A source said:" They were inseparable and the two of them really bonded.

" You could see the look of despair on Madonna's face as she left the lodge - she was heartbroken."

The source added:" Her mood flickers between anger, shock and utter disbelief." If the appeal fails, Madge is set to try to adopt a slum-baby in India.

Ex-hubby Guy Ritchie, 40, insists he backs her dream of giving Mercy a home.

And he said in a statement yesterday:" She's a great mum." But his dad John claimed Guy would be" very relieved" by the court ruling - made because Madonna had not lived in Malawi for at least 18 months before the case.

John, 78, of Kensington, west London, said:" When they were together he was never in favour of adopting a second child - which caused tensions.

" He made it clear he was happy with the family he had."

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=m...-name_page.html