Adoption official to visit Madonna 'next week'
The Malawi welfare official overseeing Madonna’s efforts to adopt an African toddler said he will make a long-awaited trip to the singer’s London home next week to assess her suitability as an adoptive parent.
Director Penston Kilembe cancelled a visit in May, the first of two court-ordered trips to check on the adoption process. Newspaper reports have spoken of an internal ministry dispute over the possibility that Madonna paid his expenses for the trip.
Kilembe told media outside the United Nations headquarters in New York that the financing was always meant to be shared between the prospective adoptive family and the Malawi government.
“This is a 50-50; the government contributes and they also have to do that if they are so willing,” said Kilembe.
“But you have to remember that our budget on children’s issues is very, very small so we may not able to afford that one … it’s in the best interest of the child that she does support, as a way of complementing government efforts.”
Madonna spokeswoman Liz Rozenberg said she would issue a statement from the singer later in the day, but there was no response by the end of business hours yesterday.
