PTI

Madonna''s girls academy sparks row in Malawi

Fri, Nov 6 02:24 PM

London, Nov 6 (PTI) Pop star Madonna has sparked a political row with her plans to erect a multi-million dollar girls academy in Malawi, as African officials have threatened to arrest villagers protesting its construction. Construction on the school, which will cost USD 13.5 million to build, started last month but 140 villagers have demanded more money for the land which the government has leased to Madonna''s Raising Malawi charity for the next 99 years, reported Contactmusic.

Senior government officials and executives at Raising Malawi have failed to reach an agreement with protesters who are now facing arrest. "If we cannot agree on this and if you cannot understand that this is government land, then I will have no choice but tell police to arrest you people for blocking development work on the site," Lilongwe District Commissioner Charles Kalemba told village representatives.

The facility, is being funded by Raising Malawi and will provide education for 200 local girls in the capital city of Lilongwe who are too poor to afford schooling.

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