James Kambewa, the presumed father of four year-old Mercy James, has gone public in his fight to keep Madonna from adopting his daughter. Last week, Kambewa told The Daily Mail that he would fight for custody of his daughter and called Madonna “scandalous” for dating a boy young enough to be her son.
Kambewa has an interview with CBS that with air on The Early Show this morning. Advance details reveal that he’s asserting his right to raise Mercy and wants to ensure that she does not leave the country with Madonna. Mercy’s mother, Mwandida, was just 15 when she died a few days after childbirth. James, then 21, was forced to leave the village due to the scandal over his young girlfriend’s pregnancy. He was barred from visiting his daughter by Mwandida’s family and has never met her. Now that he’s able to make his voice heard he’s telling the media that he hopes to care for Mercy. Mercy’s grandmother is also against the adoption and said that she hoped her granddaughter would return to her in a few years. She eventually agreed to the adoption after pressure from authorities.
Madonna’s bid to adopt Mercy was first denied on March 3. The judge was concerned that allowing Madonna to flout the country’s strict adoption laws would make Malawian orphans vulnerable to child trafficking. An appeal will be heard in the case today, but given the fact that Mercy’s dad has been so vocal in his opposition to the adoption I doubt that it will be successful:
A Malawian man claiming to be the biological father of a four-year-old girl Madonna hopes to adopt says he’s opposed to it.
The pop superstar’s appeal of a judge’s decision rejecting her attempt to adopt Chifundo “Mercy” James is slated to be heard Monday, reportedly by Lovemore Munlo, the Chief Justice of the poor southern African nation.
In an Early Show world exclusive, James Kambewa tells correspondent Priya David, “I want to take care of her and I’m capable to take care of my baby. … Mercy, she is a Malawian — so (I) need her to grow as a Malawian, as well with our culture.”
Kambewa, who wears a necklace he made bearing his daughter’s name, has never held or even met her, and says he’s only seen her “in newspapers and TV, not face to face.”
The interview will be featured in an Early Show three-part series about Madonna’s adoption starting Monday.
But Madonna spokesperson Liz Rosenberg issued a statement saying, “There is no evidence whatsoever that this man is the father of Mercy who has been in an orphanage since birth. Her mother died while giving birth to her. This is a story created by the media that has no influence on the ultimate ruling regarding Madonna’s appeal for custody. No family member has ever come forward to claim this child. And now some man appears out of a clear blue sky claiming to be the father.”
Lucy Chekechiwa, Mercy’s maternal grandmother, says she remains conflicted about the matter, telling David the orphanage has been determined. “I did not want my granddaughter to be adopted,” she says, “but because they have been persistent enough, I have been forced to let my granddaughter go.”
Madonna already adopted a son, David, from Malawi.
That nation requires prospective parents to live there 18 to 24 months while child welfare authorities assess their suitability. That rule wasn’t applied when Madonna was allowed to take David to London in 2006.
The judge in a lower court said Madonna’s previous adoption was the only case in which the residency requirement had been waived, and said she was concerned that doing so again could set a precedent that could jeopardize children.
[From CBSNews]
We’ll have to see what happens in this case and if Madonna’s adoption will be approved despite the fact that she didn’t meet adoption residency requirements, is single, and faces opposition from the girl’s living family including her father. How can Madonna’s rep say with certainty that this guy isn’t Mercy’s dad if they don’t have any proof either way? It’s not like they’re going to try to get a DNA test done.
If you couldn’t afford to see her for the first two years of her life (and by that I mean…couldn’t even afford to get the transportation to where she was..even once) then you can’t afford to raise her!!
you know, I find Madonna’s behavior after the judge denied her request to adopt disgusting. you would think she would take his valid and important concern about child trafficking to heart, and behave accordingly – doing whatever it takes to prove her intentions. instead, she’s acting like the selfish egomaniac she is, trying to use her money and power to get special treatment regardless of the consequences – just like a common child trafficker…
off course, I still think mercy would be better off with Madonna then in an orphanage in Malawi. it is truly unfortunate Madonna is too selfish to do what it takes to give that little girl a better life.
I agree with HEB and Lilly. Why is he judging Madonna for dating a younger man when he himself impregnated a 15 year old when he was 21? Sounds like his concern is more along the lines of hope for a cash-in.
This makes me sick! These African parents who are alive and well, who have children living in ORPHANAGES (last I checked, they were created for children who had no living parents) want to get on their high horses and make a fuss? What a scumbag. He would rather have his liitle girl waste away her childhood impoverished and wanting in order to prove he is still in control? It would be a different thing if HE wanted to take her home and care for her, but that is obviously not the case here. Such a shame.
I agree that he is likely now in the picture because he thinks there is something to be gained from it. Oh, well, hopefully Mercy will also benefit from all this since people are now aware of her existence. There’s that much at least.
Patrice– Orphanages are created for children without parents here in America, but it is not the same at all in other countries. I worked at an orphanage in Cambodia, and it was very common practice to leave your child there while you tried to earn enough money to support them. During the year three children I taught were taken back by their families. While it doesn’t seem like Mercy’s father left her there with the idea that he would try to earn enough to support her, it does seem as though that was the case with the grandmother. And while many people seem to think Mercy would be better off with a multi-millionaire, you cannot erase the fact that if Madonna does take her, she is taking away the grandmother’s hope of raising her child. If Madonna adopts the child, Mercy’s grandmother will not be in her life, just as David Banda’s father is no longer in his. Does no one see anything wrong with this? The excommunication of poor African people from their children’s lives because the children are so much better off with the soulless rich white lady? Maybe Mercy and David will go to good schools and have lots of money, but there will come a day when they will look up all this stuff on the internet, and realize that the woman who raised them took their parents out of their lives. Ask yourselves, are your own parents, grandparents, etc. worth a life with greater riches?
It was never clear to me that the grandmother had ever visited the child although I understand extended family is strongly encouraged to do so. It seems that the orphanage would be aware if an extended family member had eventual plans to take the child and would not hold the child out for adoption. I’m not a fan of Madonna’s but it looks like no one was interested in this girl until Madonna expressed an interest.
Moogles: How long is too long? Should Mercy’s biological family have the somewhat indefinite opportunity to decide wheter or not they can care for her until she is 18? While I do agree with you about money not necessarily meaning love, would you not be hurt and baffled beyond belief if you were this child and later grew up to find that your biological family (assuming they never take her back) kept you from being adopted into a more stable, consistant life just because of their own selfish agendas? I believe that any parent should only have a certain amount of time to get their sh*t together before time runs out and it’s too late. There is a reason there are statute of limitations set upon biological parents who put their children up in this country. It is to protect the kids.
I agree with Patrice, despite some people’s weird hate towards Madonna, she can clearly give this little girl the love and a good lifestyle that she deserves, yet some would prefer to give her to a good-for-nothing parent who just happens to pop up into the scene as soon as he realized there is some money to be made (I don’t believe that BS that he suddenly had a change of heart, at a such convenient time no less and now wants to be a father to her). Even if Mercy stays with her father, what type of life do you think she will have? Most likely have the same unfortunate fate as her poor mother or worst.
Seriously dude – just don’t wish the best for your daughter whatever you do, oh no! She might have the chance for a great education and a better life! Pfffft. Dead beat Dad and publiclity seeker. He’s hoping to make money off his child (that he didn’t care enough about to go and see).
Why is that dried up, disgusting hag still trying to kidnap a child who has a living parent that wants to care for her himself? Does Malawi have no actual, true orphans that she could adopt? Or perhaps she could consider adopting a child in America, huh? But I guess an American orphan isn’t as a good a fashion accessory as an African child.
I’ve never been a fan, but now I really dislike her. I sincerely hope that this attempted kidnapping is not facilitated by the Malawi government.
Mercy’s father said in an interview that he was run out of his village after getting his girlfriend pregnant and had no idea how to find his daughter. He is now employed and wants to raise her, so why shouldn’t he? Also, orphanages in Malawi agree to keep children to a certain age so their immune systems can develop, protecting them from disease. The family hadn’t necessarily abandoned her to the orphanage. And why should Madonna be allowed to completely ignore all the requirements of adoption law in this country? Because she’s insanely rich and giving money to the government? why else would they have allowed the first adoption?
I think his problem with Madonna raising (his/the) child is that she has no morals. She flaunts her sexuality like no mother I have ever seen (or care to for that matter). She also flaunts her love life, starting with A-Rod (WHILE SHE WAS MARRIED) and now with the boy/child/lover she’s taken up with now. Who cares if she has enough money to feed the world if her influence over a child would be bad? If she truly wanted to help Mercy and the Court won’t let her adopt her, then set up a trust fund for the kid when she reaches the age of majority!
Wow , poor Marcy this is what she is faced with
a- Stay in the orphanage ’cause the judge refused the adoption and her father really doesn’t care(he just smells a payday, slumdog style) and her grandmother hates the poor child for bringing shame (shame!!) unto her family (rolling my eyes)
b-get pulled out of the orphanage long enough for father to get a payday and then be forced into child labor or sold or whatever because her father really doesnt care , oh and by the way, he IS a pedophile (15/21, it’s disturbing when it’s freaking Miley Cyrus and whatever his name is, it’s disturbing when it’s freaking Celine Dion and her geriatric husband, it’s not because the girl was african that it’s anymore acceptable!!)
c- get adopted by the grandmother because public opinion forces her too as mentioned in the article, child is once again sent into the work force at 5 or sold or whatever
d-get adopted by Madonna and turned into a bratty neurotic kid brought up by nannies, whith a “mother” jealous of your youth.
hmmmm. I still choose D. The choice isnt between a rock and a hard place, it’s between a rock, a tub of shit and a pile of pooh. Now mind you, really all this comes down to is that Madonna didn’t grease someones palm enough, she probably thought she coughed up enough the first time around and could get a 2 for 1… SIGH
@ dubdub2000
Perfect sum up!!!
I hope Madonna gets to adopt this girl,she would get to have a fascinating life. I guess we will have to wait to see what her destiny will be.
While I really don’t undestand why wealthy people forget about children in their own countries and run off to Africa to take away their children…
I have to say that this guy seems very passionate and active in making sure his daughter will not be raised in a family and taken cared of.
Why didn’t he fight for the right to raise her?
Is he making the commitment to take care of his child?
The only thing I hear is backward views about single woman who date young men, and not allowing Madonna to care for a child.
To all of the people who feel being adopted by Madonna would mean a better life for the child:
The child would be better off raised in her own country, with her own people. If this orphanage is run by good people and provides a good education, then the child should stay there. She will be near extended family and amongst her own people. If Madonna really cared, she would support schools for poor/abandoned/orphaned children. Kids in England are sent to boarding schools. Yes, there is opportunity in the West, but why not try to help people in Africa bring up their situation in their own countries?
Moogles:
May 4th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
&
misslily:
May 4th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
100% agree.
Why is it that some people think Mercy’s going to be SOLD at a certain age? Keep your racist assumptions to yourself, and please look this crap up before you go off spouting.
Madonna has been criticized for years for letting her children be raised by a team of nannies. Where is the “love” she can so “obviously” give?
Ned: I totally agree.
I’m going with “pots calling the kettle black”. If you want to see your daughter than do so.If you want a better life for her and can provide, do so. If you cannot and still want her to have a better life, then let Madonna take her. While I never thought I would be a champion of the Material One, i do believe her intentions are true and she would, to her capacity, love and respect Mercy. As for the whole dating someone who could be her son, at least that is two concenting adults, unlike his liason with a, what, 14 year old who died after childbirth at 15??? In our country that not only a crime, but its sickening… but then, what would I know, I would just like to see Mercy somewhere safe, instead of attending one of the schools Madonna builds in the impoverished nation.
I hope we can do a follow up on this child in a couple of years time if Madonna does not adopt her. My bet is that she will still be in the orphanage.
Can celebritries please start adopting *orphans*. The fact Madonna and Jolie are ok with these trails of powerless crying grandmothers and fathers in their wakes is really horrifying actually. Picture this: Kate Winslet wants a baby from the poorest town in Alabama. The young father shows up and says he didn’t know the baby was alive and he didn’t want her to leave the US, he would take care of her and the Grama as well. Kate Winslet would be sick if she still steamrolled ahead to try to get this child.
Angelina Jolie’s adoption of her oldest caused Cambodia to literally stop all international adoptions! It si easy for people to judge impoverished people whose cultures they do not understand. It is extremely difficult financially, if not impossible, for people in 3rd world countries to make regular trips to orphanages, no matter how much they love their children – and if you are told your child is dead like Mercy’s father was told, of course you won’t be visiting any orphanage.
It is not necessarily damaging to a child to be raised in an orphanage if they know that they have family waiting to accept and love them at some point on the outside.
Madonna has no right to take this child. The Malawian goovernment is poor and has ok’d it because they are beholden to her and her money she has given the country. She could at least pretend respect, by living in the country the required 18 months.