South Africa — Malawian rights organizations say their government needs help monitoring Madonna's planned adoption of David Banda.
Madonna and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, took custody of David, then 14 months old, last October. His father had placed David in an orphanage.
Malawi's Child Welfare Services is expected to file a report on the couple's suitability as adoptive parents after two trips to their London residence this year. But welfare services has already missed one visit, which was set for May.
Director Penston Kilembe, who is overseeing the case, indicated in an interview this week that money is an issue. He said hopes to go to London by month's end.
"We have been unable to travel because of logistical problems," Kilembe said. "You know it requires some resources for me to travel."
Malawian law is fuzzy on foreign adoptions. Regulations only stipulate that prospective parents undergo an 18- to 24-month assessment period, a rule that was bent when Madonna and Ritchie were allowed to take David home.
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