Madonna has become embroiled
in a war of words with the President of Malawi after she sent her a tatty,
misspelled letter.
President Joyce Banda has
accused the superstar of going back on her promises and 'insulting the people'
after receiving the letter, which kindly praised the leader but was riddled
with mistakes.
The 54-year-old pop star
asked to meet Banda - who was elected to office in April 2012 - during her
visit, but was met with hostility and accusations.
But the Borderline star
managed to make a number of errors, including misspelling 'responsability' for
'responsibility'.
Madonna, who has spent the
week in the country to visit the schools she's funded through charity Raising
Malawi, wrote in the rambling letter:
'I have always admired your
strength and courage and have very good memories of when we met and spoke and
we interviewed you for documentary as you know I am in Malawi for the week.'
'If you have any time in
your busy schedule to meet that would be great if not you know I am here to be
of service and continue to do what I can to support the children of Malawi!'
she continued.
But instead of taking her up
on her offer, President Banda has slammed the star for not living up to her
word.
She has accused the
pop-singer and her charity Raising Malawi of 'insulting the people' by building
10 schools without getting government consent.
But Madonna hit back in a
video for The Telegraph, saying: 'I want to say that my reasons for being here
have never changed. I'm here because I care deeply about the children of Malawi.
That is my main priority.'
The Material Girl landed in
the African country earlier this week to visit not just the orphanage where she
adopted her two children Mercy and David, but also to see the ten school blocks
she has funded around the country, beginning with Nkoko Primary School in the
tobacco-growing district of Kasungu.
Around 4,000 school children
were said to have been learning under trees, before the pop star injected cash
to help build new classrooms. But Joyce Banda said these buildings were
constructed without asking officials: 'She came unannounced to villages and
made poor people dance for her.'
'No one should come here and
say 'I'm building a classroom' without needs assessment. In some cases The
President's words may also be a reaction to Madonna's lack of communication
with her office upon her family's arrival in the country.
Presidential press secretary
Steve Nhlane to the Daily Telegraph, confirmed the lack of contact, but said,
'her excellency would be willing to meet with her [Madonna] if she puts in a
request.'
Speaking out: President
Joyce Banda says that Madonna is 'making the people dance for her'
Speaking out: President
Joyce Banda says that Madonna is 'making the people dance for her'
Malawi's education minister
backed up the President's comments, telling the BBC that the popstar is merely
building classrooms not entire schools in the southern African country.
Eunice Kazembe said:'She has
built classrooms at existing schools... really it's a difference in
terminology.'
'She promised an academy and
we agreed on standards but she just changed her mind on the project without
consulting us.'
Two years ago Madonna closed
down the Malawian office of her charity Raising Malawi, and called off the
construction of the planned 400-student academy after allegations of financial
mismanagement arose.
Trevor Neilson, president of
the Global Philanthropy Group that is managing Madonna's projects in the
African country, said that the singer - who fired every staff member at her
charity as a result of bad management - had already spent $400,000 on the 10
school blocks, and reiterated her commitment to the African nation : 'Madonna
loves Malawi, she is happy to be here, she is committed to end poverty here. 'As
well as Mercy and David, Madonna's biological children, though by different
fathers, also joined their mother and Malawian siblings on the charitable
visit.
Lourdes Leon and Rocco
Richie followed their mother to all the hospitals and children centres,
enjoying the company of the Malawian people they met along the way.
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