MALAWI: Biological father of Madonna's adopted child Mercy says he wants his daughter to know he is still alive

Record ID: 732842

  • Title: MALAWI: Biological father of Madonna's adopted child Mercy says he wants his daughter to know he is still alive
  • Date: 15th June 2009
  • Summary: MPHANDULA, MALAWI (MARCH 30, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHILDREN'S CENTRE VARIOUS MADONNA AND ADOPTED SON DAVID BANDA TOURING EXTERIOR OF CENTRE CHILDREN LINED UP TO WATCH MADONNA AND HER DAUGHTER, LOURDES, INSIDE CENTRE/CURTAIN BEING CLOSED BLANTYRE, MALAWI (JUNE 14, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KAMES KAMBEWA TALKING TO FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (Chichewa) JAMES KAMBEWA, MERCY'S FATHER, SAYING; "When the child was born. I was never told. I guess I was not informed because I had initially denied responsibility of the pregnancy and this could have prompted them not to deliver this good news to me as a legitimate and biological father. Also, I hear the relatives of my deceased girlfriend were told by some people that I was dead. So, this was a complicated issue indeed." MORE OF JAMES KAMBEWA (SOUNDBITE) (Chichewa) JAMES KAMBEWA, MERCY'S FATHER, SAYING; "Let the child go. I am told those involved in this case have followed all the necessary procedures so that the child should be adopted and be supported. My only plea to Madonna is that she should seriously look after the child. She must look after the child." MORE OF KAMBEWA (SOUNDBITE) (Chichewa) JAMES KAMBEWA, MERCY'S FATHER, SAYING; "I am asking Madonna to make sure that, while the child is growing, she must be informed of me as her biological father. Let her know that I am alive and that it is only the mother that died. So, she really must know that while she is far away the father is still alive." VARIOUS JAMES KAMBEWA
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Malawi
  • Country: Malawi
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVABB13MQZ1YME366YI8GW2DT5WB
  • Story Text: James Kambewa, who claims to be the father of 4 year old Malawian girl, Mercy James, says he has given up trying to prevent Madonna from adopting his daughter.
    The biological father to Mercy, James Kambewa, has given trying to stop Madonna from adopting Mercy, a child he has never seen since birth four years ago.
    Kambewa who impregnated his school lover three years ago, says he blames himself for not accepting responsibility for the pregnancy of Mercy when he was 18-years old, saying he was unable to marry and support a wife.
    Kambewa admits that he denied responsibility for the pregnancy, claiming that he was living off a relative at the time and the truth would have cost him his home and education. But Kambewa claims that he did not mean what he said regarding the pregnancy. He said Mercy's relatives hid everything from him as a result.
    "When the child was born. I was never told. I guess I was not informed because I had initially denied responsibility of the pregnancy and this could have prompted them not to deliver this good news to me as a legitimate and biological father. Also, I hear the relatives of my deceased girlfriend were told by some people that I was dead. So, this was a complicated issue indeed," he recalled.
    Meanwhile, Kambewa says he is powerless, both financially and legally, to challenge the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.
    "Let the child go. I am told those involved in this case have followed all the necessary procedures so that the child should be adopted and be supported. My only plea to Madonna is that she should seriously look after the child. She must look after the child," said the 21-year-old Kambewa.
    While the move to adopt the child has been finalised Kambewa says he would like Madonna - and his daughter - to realise that Mercy's biological father is still alive.
    Kambewa says he wishes to see Mercy grow up in a comfortable environment where care and love shall be guaranteed at all times.
    "I am asking Madonna to make sure that, while the child is growing, she must be informed that I am her biological father. Let her know that I am alive and that it is only the mother that died. So, she really must know that while she is far away the father is still alive," Kambewa told Reuters Television.
    The Supreme Court of Malawi on Friday (June 12) granted Madonna permission to adopt Mercy a decision that overruled the earlier judgement by a lower court, the High Court of Malawi.
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