Malawi government backs Madonna over school

[February 12, 2010]  BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) --Malawi's government has told a group of villagers they will have to move to make way for a $15 million girls' school being built by pop star Madonna.

Residents have refused to leave the site just outside Lilongwe, the capital.

Lilongwe District Commissioner Charles Kalemba told 200 villagers Thursday that the government land has been handed over to Madonna. The villagers have been offered other government land.

Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, who will be principal of Madonna's school, says the singer paid the villagers more than 16 million kwacha (about $115,000) to compensate them for their houses.

Headman Binson Chinkhota urged residents to move, saying the school would benefit their children.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.