Mercy James' dad lashes out to stop star adopting his child

By Lisa Hodge

April 30, 2009 / ahlanlive.com

MADONNA has been branded an ‘unfit mother' by the father of the Malawian child she is trying to adopt.

James Kambewa, 24, says he wants to spare his three-year-old daughter Mercy a life of 'scandal' with a woman he claims lacks 'good morals'.

Mr Kambewa, who has never met his daughter after walking out on her mother when she was pregnant, has written a letter to lawyers asking for a permanent injunction against Madonna adopting her.

He is also applying for full custody of his little girl.

The singer wanted to become mum to the three-year-old but her request for an interim adoption was turned down by a court in the country's capital Lilongwe earlier this month.

Madonna appealed the decision and an African court hearing is scheduled for Monday.

But now her hopes of the ruling being overturned could be dashed by mercy's father's scathing attack on her lifestyle choices after he branded her "scandalous".

Kambewa says: "She is my daughter; she is my blood; she needs parental love. She is not an orphan. She lost one parent, yes, but I am still alive and so she is not an orphan.

"Madonna has millions of dollars but that doesn't make her a good mum. Parental love is more than money. Besides, I don't think Madonna is a model mum. I have seen her in movies of her songs. She doesn't portray good morals. How can a woman of 50 dance almost naked on stage? I wouldn't want my daughter to grow up like that! In Malawi women respect themselves. Cultured women do not go about half-naked.

"I also heard after her marriage failed she is already seeing two men, both very younger than her and her ex-husband. I hear one of them is even less than half her age. That's scandalous. How can a normal woman fall for a boy who can as well be her son? No, spare my Mercy that scandal."

Kambewa has enlisted the help of the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) to acquire a lawyer to fight his corner.

In a letter to the organisation he writes, "I have learnt that an American-musician called Madonna has applied to a court for the adoption of the kid, to which the grandmother has consented. However, I do not consent to the adoption because I feel I am capable of raising the child."