London:
Queen of Pop Madonna's decisionto discontinue the building of a school in Malawi has angeredthe residents of the village near the planned site who saythat they were "duped" into giving up their land for theproject.
The 52-year-old singer had planned to build a schoolin the village of Chinkhota, close to the capital of Lilongwethrough her 'Raising Malawi' charity but scrapped the projectearlier this week amid allegations of financial mismanagement,reported Contactmusic.
The pop diva had pledged to build an all girl's schoolafter adopting her two children, Mercy and David, from thepoverty stricken African nation and her failure to comply hasdrawn huge criticism from the residents, who parted with theirland in the hope of job opportunities due to the project.
"I used to have a maize garden here but I was told tomake way for the school. We agreed to give up the land becausewe hoped we will get some employment... but we have beenduped," said Grevansio Makina, 42.
The village leader Chief Chinkhota adds, "I don't knowwhat to tell my people for it was me who convinced them togive up their land. Now they think I fooled them... Maybe Ishould just give the land back to the owners. But my hands aretied since we gave the land to the government, that in turngave it to Madonna. We don't know what to do."
The 52-year-old singer had planned to build a schoolin the village of Chinkhota, close to the capital of Lilongwethrough her 'Raising Malawi' charity but scrapped the projectearlier this week amid allegations of financial mismanagement,reported Contactmusic.
The pop diva had pledged to build an all girl's schoolafter adopting her two children, Mercy and David, from thepoverty stricken African nation and her failure to comply hasdrawn huge criticism from the residents, who parted with theirland in the hope of job opportunities due to the project.
"I used to have a maize garden here but I was told tomake way for the school. We agreed to give up the land becausewe hoped we will get some employment... but we have beenduped," said Grevansio Makina, 42.
The village leader Chief Chinkhota adds, "I don't knowwhat to tell my people for it was me who convinced them togive up their land. Now they think I fooled them... Maybe Ishould just give the land back to the owners. But my hands aretied since we gave the land to the government, that in turngave it to Madonna. We don't know what to do."
