Madonna's adoption of a one-year-old boy in Malawi will be challenged by human rights groups.
Madonna last week confirmed her intention to adopt the child, David Banda, who lives in a dilapidated orphanage in the village of Lipunga, near the Zambian border. Whilst it is illegal for foreigners to immediately adopt children in Malawi, the government granted an exemption to Madonna.However, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) - a grouping of 67 NGOs in Malawi - will challenge the legality of the decision.
Justin Dronzi - chairman of the HRCC - told People magazine, "The laws of Malawi are clear that if one wants to adopt a child one has to stay with the child for at least 18 months for assessment."
A spokesman for Eye of the Child, one of the NGOs associated with the HRCC, also stated his concerns. Boniface Mandere told Reuters, "[The government] haven't followed the law. What has happened is a shortcut."
The challenge comes as the world grows more cynical toward celebrities using philanthropy and allusions of altruism as part of their publicity machine. Madonna reportedly consulted former president Bill Clinton, and renowned Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs on how best to approach her visit to Africa.
There were also reports that Madonna had sent a crew of advisers to create a shortlist of 12 Malawian children, from which one would be chosen for adoption.
There is growing concern that such celebrity visits provide little more than false hope for poverty-stricken communities, with little attention paid to the long-term welfare of the world's poorest people.
Meanwhile, the child's father Yohane Banda has admitted that he did not fully understand what was happening to his son.
Mr Banda, whose wife Marita died not long after giving birth to David, was having trouble dealing with the pace of the adoption process. Whilst he did understand he was giving his son up for adoption, he said, "It has all been crazy. Everything has happened so fast. I can't believe what's happening."
Mr Banda had never heard of Madonna, and was clearly oblivious to the fact that Madonna recently outraged Christians worldwide for the 'crucifixion' scene during her Confessions tour, stating he had heard the pop superstar was, "a very nice Christian lady."
The farmer went on, "They told me a mzungu (white foreigner) had seen David's picture and liked him very much. They said she wanted to take him to America.
"They said she would give him a better life. At first I wasn't sure. I asked if it meant I would never see him again.
"They said I would be sent pictures, and when David was older he would be able to visit the village.
"My family and I agreed this was a very good opportunity for David to get an education and grow up healthy."
