Madonna leaves Malawi 'struggling'

[kingwilly]

Madonna leaves Malawi 'struggling'



Idle land ... Madonna at a soil turning ceremony for the planned school in Chinkota, 2009. Photo: Reuters
Madonna's funding backflip leads to finger-pointing, lawsuits and arguments about whether her efforts are a help or hindrance.

Celebrity promises have turned to disappointment, finger-pointing and lawsuits in Malawi, an impoverished and troubled southern African country where Madonna has drastically scaled back charity efforts.

Some Malawi officials say Madonna's changes in plans have taken them by surprise, but Madonna's camp says the government has been informed and involved in the new agenda.

In 2009, Education Minister George Chaponda helped Madonna break ground for a $US15 million ($A14.49 million) academy for girls. Earlier this year, Madonna's Raising Malawi foundation announced that instead of building the academy, it is providing $US300,000 to the non-governmental organisation buildOn, which has years of experience in Malawi, to develop 10 schools. They'll serve about 1000 boys and girls in the southern African nation of 15 million that is among the poorest in the world.

"We haven't been officially approached" about the change, Chaponda complained recently. "We are just reading from the media but we haven't been told anything."

Ministry of Education officials said a memorandum of understanding that Raising Malawi, founded in 2006, signed with the Malawi government for the academy project has a clause that binds either party to notify and get the other's agreement should it want to alter any aspect of the project.

John Bisika, the top bureaucrat in the education department, said the Malawi government was disappointed.

"We need to know what's happening. She can't just say: 'I'm building schools here'. We need to be consulted in order to work out where schools are needed based on our data," he said. "Let's do it properly."

But Trevor Neilson, who is helping to direct Madonna's school project in Malawi as a partner of the Global Philanthropy Group, said allegations the government was being left out of Madonna's planning are "absolutely not true".

"Our partnership with buildOn received the explicit approval from the education ministry. We had ... six government officials who attended the contract signing along with about 50 or so members of the community," he said.

Neilson gave The Associated Press a copy of a January 31 letter sent to Chaponda. Days earlier, Madonna had released a public statement about her new plans.

Neilson called himself Madonna's adviser in his letter to Chaponda and referred to Raising Malawi having "changed course" on the academy. Neilson stressed Madonna remained committed to helping children in the country, taking a new "community based approach" by working with buildOn.

He added: "Raising Malawi would like to graciously return the land in Chinkhota granted to us by the government for the original Raising Malawi Academy for Girls project."

Headman Binson Chinkhota had a tough time convincing villagers of the importance of Madonna's academy project. Now, he feels let down.

"My people reluctantly gave up their land because I convinced them the project was beneficial not only because our girls would get world-class education but also because some of the villagers would get piecework," said the chief whose subjects mainly survive on subsistence agriculture and day labour in the city of Lilongwe, some 25 kilometres away. "Now the land is just lying idle."

A leading child care group also expressed disappointment in Madonna and said its funding by Raising Malawi stopped suddenly and without explanation.

"We are really struggling - they were our main funders. In fact, we increased the children we feed daily because of them," said Lucy Chapomba, administrator at Consol Homes, a group that runs projects for orphans and vulnerable children in central Malawi.

Neilson said Raising Malawi was funding Consol Homes through the middle of this year, but that Consol Homes was not fulfilling its financial reporting obligations and there were "major concerns" about the performance of its management team.

"So, as of now, we're not going to be continuing that funding unless they can show us that the money will be well used," Neilson said. "Raising Malawi does not just hand out money to anyone and everyone that wants it. We have a clear grant making process and performance metrics associated with these grants. So people in Malawi might not like that we measure their performance but that is the way that Raising Malawi is now run."

Neilson said that since 2007, Raising Malawi has invested over $US7 million, including $US1 million for Consol Homes, in programs to support orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi.

Anjimile Ntila-Oponyo, a Harvard-trained teacher Madonna poached from the United Nations Development Project to head her Malawi project, is locked in a legal battle over unpaid wages. Ntila-Oponyo is gagged by a confidentiality clause she signed with the singer, and refused to discuss the issue with the AP.

Malawi's relations with foreign donors have been strained by accusations President Bingu wa Mutharika is authoritarian and responsible for human rights abuses. Earlier this month, a US aid agency that rewards good governance suspended $US350 million worth of assistance to Malawi.

Madonna says her new approach in Malawi will serve twice as many children as an original plan that had led some to draw parallels to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls the talk show host and entrepreneur started in neighbouring South Africa in 2007. Winfrey, who spent $US40 million on her campus, recently acknowledged hers "is not a sustainable model for most people in most countries".

Madonna has adopted two children from Malawi, David and Mercy, both now six. Children's welfare groups had expressed concern about the adoptions, saying rules meant to protect children were bent because of Madonna's celebrity, and perhaps out of gratitude for what she had done and was expected to do for Malawi.

"Currently half of all Malawi's children don't finish the primary school cycle," said Neilson, Madonna's adviser. "Madonna would like to help those children go to school."



Read more: Madonna Leaves Malawi 'Struggling'

[alwarner]

Looks like she got bored.

Malawi: Expect David Banda back UPS by Monday.

[Rural Surin]

Fuck me...

It's all about the children [not].

[CaptainNemo]

It's all about the mid-life crisis.
ABC draws the line at Madonna's raunchy new perfume ad: Channel to digitally cover singer's cleavage | Mail Online

Is it all over for Madonna? - Telegraph

Dirty, disgusting, decrepid fat old hag.

[kingwilly]

Some Malawi officials say Madonna's changes in plans have taken them by surprise, but Madonna's camp says the government has been informed and involved in the new agenda.

In 2009, Education Minister George Chaponda helped Madonna break ground for a $US15 million ($A14.49 million) academy for girls. Earlier this year, Madonna's Raising Malawi foundation announced that instead of building the academy, it is providing $US300,000 to the non-governmental organisation buildOn, which has years of experience in Malawi, to develop 10 schools. They'll serve about 1000 boys and girls in the southern African nation of 15 million that is among the poorest in the world.

"We haven't been officially approached" about the change, Chaponda complained recently. "We are just reading from the media but we haven't been told anything.

Sounds like some petty government officials are not happy to me.

[kmart]

It's all about the mid-life crisis.
ABC draws the line at Madonna's raunchy new perfume ad: Channel to digitally cover singer's cleavage | Mail Online

Is it all over for Madonna? - Telegraph

Dirty, disgusting, decrepid fat old hag.

You're not a fan, then?

People have been calling time on Madonna's career forever. Her new album went straight in at #1, and tickets for her new tour have sold out within a few days.
She must really be worried about the critics, eh?

[taxexile]

John Bisika, the top bureaucrat in the education department, said the Malawi government was disappointed.

"We need to know what's happening. She can't just say: 'I'm building schools here'. We need to be consulted in order to work out where schools are needed based on our data," he said. "Let's do it properly."

sounds like the penpushers are mad because they have been kicked off the gravy train.

[kingwilly]

That's my take too.

[Mid]

Madonna Dismisses Malawi Government's Bullying Claims
11 April 2013

Madonna has hit back at accusations she bullied officials and expected special treatment during a recent trip to Malawi.

Picture: Madonna - 24th Annual GLADD Media Awards - Madonna presents the Vito Russo Award to Anderson Cooper - New York, NY, United States - Saturday...

The pop star jetted to Africa on Easter Sunday (31Mar13) to meet orphans and visit educational projects which have been funded through her Raising Malawi charity.

However, her trip was mired in controversy after she was accused of demanding Vip status at the local airport, while a letter from the office of Malawi President Joyce Banda contained fierce criticism of the star.

The letter accused the singer of "bullying state officials" and shot down Madonna's claims that her charity has constructed 10 schools in the country, stating she had merely funded the refurbishment of several classrooms at existing educational facilities.

Madonna has now replied to the accusations, branding the content of the letter "lies" and denying she demanded special treatment during her trip.

A statement from the pop star reads, "I'm saddened that Malawi's President Joyce Banda has chosen to release lies about what we've accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other untruths.

"I have no intentions of being distracted by these ridiculous allegations. I came to Malawi seven years ago with honourable intentions. I returned earlier this month to view the new schools we built. I did not ever ask or demand special treatment at the airport or elsewhere during my visit. I will not be distracted or discouraged by other people's political agendas. I made a promise to the children of Malawi and I am keeping that promise."

Madonna has two adopted children from the country, David and Mercy.

contactmusic.com

[mao say dung]

^You go girl.

[kingwilly]

Easy to deny, where's the pics of the 10 new schools?

[mao say dung]

https://drive.google.com/folderview?...G8&usp=sharing

[Rural Surin]

Where's that Bono when you need 'im?

He'd save the day, I'm sure....

[wasabi]

Theroux book "Dark Star Safari" gives a small insight into what Malawi is. How many fat corrupt Blacks wanted to steal the Muzungu money,and build zero schools?

[blue]

I've seen that look before .... but where ?

I got it !!
it's non other than
Bombardier Beaumont
from the 1970s TV show ''it ain't half hot mum''





I've forgotten what that Sargent major was called ,
but he's just what we need right now at Teakdoor
to sort the delinquent mods out

[MissTraveller]

President of Malawi in war of words over Madonna's 'bullying'

Pop star denies 'ridiculous allegations' after claim by Joyce Banda that she expected special treatment

She has sold more records than any other woman, enthralled fans at the Super Bowl and starred on the big screen as Eva Perón. As a result, one word that Madonna is unaccustomed to hearing is "no".
However, the queen of pop appears to have met her match in Joyce Banda, the president of Malawi, who has delivered a withering verdict on Madonna's activities in the country that makes reviews of her recent films look positively kind.
She is "a musician who desperately thinks she must generate recognition by bullying state officials instead of playing decent music on the stage", the president's office commented in an extraordinary statement.
Madonna wanted the Malawian government to "roll out a red carpet and blast the 21-gun salute in her honour", "thinks she deserves to be revered with state grandeur" and needs to learn "the decency of telling the truth", the presidency said.
In one bizarre barb, Madonna's conduct in Malawi was unfavourably compared against that of Chuck Norris, the American actor, martial artist and champion of gun ownership.
Such an evisceration from a head of state might be enough to crush many people. But not Madonna. She accused Banda of telling lies about her. The singer's spokeswoman suggested the claims were linked to the removal of the president's sister as head of Madonna's humanitarian organisation in Malawi.
Whatever the cause, the war of words is a disaster for Madonna's complicated relationship with the southern African country, which she first visited in 2006, and renews questions about the wisdom of western celebrities on philanthropic missions to the developing world. Madonna adopted two Malawian children and runs several projects but was bitterly criticised after abandoning plans to build a $15m (£9.37m) elite academy for girls.

She has become accustomed to VIP status on previous trips, including when she arrived there last week, but when she came to leave the country she learned that she and her party would have to queue with other passengers and be frisked by airport security.
"There was a directive that Miss [Madonna] Louise Ciccone, travelling on a US passport, and her children Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, Rocco Ritchie, Mercy James, David Banda Ciccone Ritchie should use the ordinary passenger terminal on their way to their jet," an aviation official, who did not wish to be named, told the Associated Press.
Joyce Banda's office condemned Madonna for trying to use her celebrity to compel Malawi to give her special treatment. "Granted, Madonna is a famed international musician," the statement said. "But that does not impose an injunction of obligation on any government under whose territory Madonna finds herself, including Malawi, to give her state treatment. Such treatment, even if she deserved it, is discretionary, not obligatory.
"Among the many things that Madonna needs to learn as a matter of urgency is the decency of telling the truth.
"For her to tell the whole world that she is building schools in Malawi when she has actually only contributed to the construction of classrooms is not compatible with manners of someone who thinks she deserves to be revered with state grandeur."
The statement added that Malawi has played host to other international stars including Chuck Norris, Bono, and footballers David James, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville "who have never demanded state attention or decorum despite their equally dazzling stature".
The presidency also questioned the motives behind Madonna's humanitarian efforts, alleging that she "wants Malawi to be forever chained to the obligation of gratitude".
It continued: "Kindness, as far as its ordinary meaning is concerned, is free and anonymous. If it can't be free and silent, it is not kindness; it is something else. Blackmail is the closest it becomes."
Banda was reportedly angered by Madonna's claims that she has built 10 schools in Malawi. "She is just building school blocks at already existing schools. In some cases she just renovated an already existing block. This is an insult to the people of Malawi."
Madonna said she was "saddened" that Banda "has chosen to release lies about what we've accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other untruths. I have no intentions of being distracted by these ridiculous allegations".
She continued: "I came to Malawi seven years ago with honourable intentions. I returned earlier this month to view the new schools we built. I did not ever ask or demand special treatment at the airport or elsewhere during my visit.
"I will not be distracted or discouraged by other people's political agendas. I made a promise to the children of Malawi and I am keeping that promise."
A spokeswoman for Madonna expressed surprise at the criticism and said the claim that the singer had requested special treatment was "nonsense". She noted that Banda's younger sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, was sacked as the chief executive for Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi.
"Due to major organisational problems that occurred during that time, the original team was disbanded," the spokeswoman said. "President Banda has since appointed her sister to a senior post within the ministry of education.
"Madonna's decision to change course on her education projects has subsequently been met by deep resistance from Oponyo, the president and the ministry of education. But Madonna is not letting politics stand in the way of her deep commitment to help build schools there and educate as many children as possible."
Trevor Neilson, whose Global Philanthropy Group is managing Madonna's projects in Malawi, also alleged that Banda "appears to be using her office to pursue the financial interests of her sister, Anjimile Oponyo."
He said Oponyo was in charge of the failed Madonna's school project "when $3.8m (£2.47m) was spent without ever breaking ground".
Neilson said when Oponyo was removed from her position and the project was terminated, she issued "a series of wild demands and threats. Initially she demanded $450,000, then $380,000 and she is currently suing Raising Malawi".
He alleged that when Oponyo was appointed by Banda as a principal secretary responsible for primary school education, she began to use that office to "pursue her grudge" against Raising Malawi. He alleged that Oponyo was "actively demanding money from Raising Malawi".
Neilson added: "Madonna is the largest individual philanthropist in Malawi and we are a bit surprised that the president is using her office to pursue her sister's financial interests."


President of Malawi in war of words over Madonna's 'bullying' | World news | The Guardian

--
Words are just words. Every side has two stories. I don't know the truth so I can't take sides, but Madonna is a celebrity and I like her fighting spirit and I'm sure her intentions were good.

[alwarner]

I wish she'd been my Akela.

[mao say dung]

^Indeed. I've been muttering "dib, dib, dib, dib" all morning.

Now I know why.

[reddog]

Easy to deny, where's the pics of the 10 new schools?

lived around there, right up there with the zimbabweans for being on the take

[wasabi]

Malawi's nurses work abroad. U.K has more Malawi nurses working than what Malawi has at home.