Malawi's president criticises Madonna over school

Joyce Banda, Malawi's new president, has expressed concern over Madonna's adoption of children from her country and criticized her for "changing her mind" over plans to build schools there.

Mrs Banda said the pop star was not "barred" from returning to Malawi, but her charitable involvement in the country was over. "Madonna came to Malawi to build a school, an academy like the one Oprah [Winfrey] built in South Africa, but she changed her mind," she said.

"I have a problem with a lot of things around the adoption of the children and the changing of the mind and then coming back to build community schools. I don't want to discuss that, I don't want that to be top of my agenda because it doesn't matter. It's something she offered to do and she has changed her mind - that's fine."

Madonna, who adopted David and Mercy from Malawian families, set up Raising Malawi to build a pounds 9.4?million academy for 400 girls. She fell out with the charity after a report accused its staff, including Mrs Banda's sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, of expropriating funds to spend on luxurious cars and golf club membership. Some staff are suing Madonna for wrongful termination. A spokesman for the singer's charity did not return a request for com! ment.

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