OMEN
08-07-2007, 10:03 AM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44041000/jpg/_44041302_madonna_david_203_ap.jpg
Madonna took custody of David Banda in October 2006
Madonna's adoption of a Malawian baby could be under threat after an official assigned to the case was refused permission to travel to the UK.
Social worker Penstone Kilembe was due to monitor the child's progress in two trips to the pop star's London home.
But he said the Malawian government had stopped the visits, telling Reuters the adoption process "may crumble".
The government was not available for comment, but reports said a different official would now travel to London.
Mr Kilembe, who is director of Malawi's child welfare services, was appointed by the High Court of Malawi to oversee the child's welfare and report to the court and the ministry at least twice.
He told Reuters: "The whole adoption process may crumble and David [may be] sent back to his village."
Flight row
Justin Dzonzi, a human rights lawyer who led a legal challenge to Madonna's adoption, said the decision could jeopardise the adoption process.
"The court will not listen to anyone else apart from the one it appointed," he said.
Madonna was granted an 18-month interim custody order, which enabled her to take one-year-old David Banda out of Malawi last October.
The adoption will only receive final approval once it has been shown that the child is being properly cared for.
The court also ruled that Madonna should cover all the costs.
But the Malawi News newspaper reported that the country's minister of women and child development, Kate Kainja, had accused Kilembe of obtaining an air ticket and money from Madonna without government approval.
"We feel Mr Kilembe personalised the whole issue when other people can go," she told the newspaper. Mr Kilembe denied the accusations.
BBC
Madonna took custody of David Banda in October 2006
Madonna's adoption of a Malawian baby could be under threat after an official assigned to the case was refused permission to travel to the UK.
Social worker Penstone Kilembe was due to monitor the child's progress in two trips to the pop star's London home.
But he said the Malawian government had stopped the visits, telling Reuters the adoption process "may crumble".
The government was not available for comment, but reports said a different official would now travel to London.
Mr Kilembe, who is director of Malawi's child welfare services, was appointed by the High Court of Malawi to oversee the child's welfare and report to the court and the ministry at least twice.
He told Reuters: "The whole adoption process may crumble and David [may be] sent back to his village."
Flight row
Justin Dzonzi, a human rights lawyer who led a legal challenge to Madonna's adoption, said the decision could jeopardise the adoption process.
"The court will not listen to anyone else apart from the one it appointed," he said.
Madonna was granted an 18-month interim custody order, which enabled her to take one-year-old David Banda out of Malawi last October.
The adoption will only receive final approval once it has been shown that the child is being properly cared for.
The court also ruled that Madonna should cover all the costs.
But the Malawi News newspaper reported that the country's minister of women and child development, Kate Kainja, had accused Kilembe of obtaining an air ticket and money from Madonna without government approval.
"We feel Mr Kilembe personalised the whole issue when other people can go," she told the newspaper. Mr Kilembe denied the accusations.
BBC