Madona allowed to adopt Malawi's Chifundo

Report by Nyasa times. 

The Supreme Court of Appeal in Malawi on Friday ruled in favour of US pop diva Madonna allowing her to adopt a second Malawi toddler, three-year-old Chifundo James.

Madonna’s original application was denied by judge of the High Court of Lilongwe, Esme Chombo, on the grounds that she had not lived in the African state for 18 months – which her lawyer Allan Chinula argued was an out-dated rule.

However, the singer appealed the decision and the appeal was heard on 4 May by the head of the southern African country’s judiciary, Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, and two other appeal court justices - Isaac Mtambo and Duncan Tambala.

Delivering their determination on Friday after leaked news of the favourable ruling, the Chief Justice allowed Madonna’s appeal to succeed.

Chief Justice Munlo pointed out that Madonna has shown committmenet to help disadvantaged children in the country and that the High Court judge made an error in law for not taking into account that fact.

The appeal court also quashed the residency rule as a barrier saying it was archaic.

“We therefore grant the adoption,” ruled the Chief Justice.

Chinula said Chifundo – whose name translates to ‘Mercy’ – will now be united with David Banda the little boy Madonna adopted from Malawi.