Dad of Madonna's adopted daughter Mercy saving money to fly out to see her
Dad of Madonna's adopted daughter Mercy saving money to fly out to see her
By Emily Miller and Stewart Maclean 7/04/2010
The dad of Madonna's adopted daughter Mercy yesterday insisted he has quit his homeland because he is desperate to earn money to visit her.
James Kambewa, 25, left Malawi amid claims from locals that he faced possible underage sex charges after it was revealed Mercy's mum was only 14 when she became pregnant.
But James, now working as a shopping centre security guard in Durban, South Africa, rubbished those allegations and added: "Now I am in South Africa I can earn far more.
"I hope to use the money to help me be a proper dad to my Mercy.
"Now I am saving my money. I could save up and fly to London to visit Mercy, if her new mother would allow me to.
"I know planes cost a lot of money but I am desperate to see my girl."
Madonna is this week in Malawi to set up a £10million academy for girls. She had hoped to let her adopted children Mercy and David Banda, both four, meet up with their fathers.
James said he was devastated at missing out on the chance of seeing Mercy. He added: "It is so hard for me not to be in Malawi when my daughter is there but I needed to leave my home country to start a better life."It's a year now since Madonna took my baby but every day my heart cries out for Mercy
"I know she is now living a life of wealth but she is my child. I still hope one day to see her. It is nonsense to say I left Malawi because I was in trouble. It was to make a better life."
James, who opposed the adoption, said he has not given up hope that one day Mercy will be returned to him.
He added: "Perhaps one day I can employ a lawyer who will take this into a court. I'd like to challenge Madonna's right to have my baby. I am still her father, even though she has had Mercy for one year now."
Mercy's teenage mum, who was not married to James, died in childbirth. He believed Mercy had not survived.
He only learned she was still alive when Madonna's attempt to adopt her from an orphanage became headline news.
James made the seven-day bus trip to South Africa in the summer after borrowing the fare from his family.
He said: "It was hard for me to leave Malawi but I knew I could never earn much money if I lived there.
"In South Africa at first I had nothing and knew no one but now I have a job as a security guard.
"The money I get is much better. I am saving up and now want to send some back to my family."
Madonna yesterday laid the foundation stone of her new Malawian academy for girls. She said: "For me education is everything. Knowledge is power.
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