Malawi villagers refuse to make room for Madonna’s school

New York: Villagers in Malawi have refused to leave their land to make way for a school being built by pop star Madonna.The government of Malawi told some 200 residents near the capital city of Lilongwe that they’d have to relocate to make way for the 15-million-dollar girls school.

However, people living in that area don’t want to leave, despite pledges that the institution will help their children, reports the New York Daily News. The school plans started causing a commotion on Feb. 11. That’s when Lilongwe District Commissioner Charles Kalemba informed villagers that the government land they’ve long called home is now Madonna’s domain. The villagers have been offered other government land in return. Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, who will be the principal of Madonna’s school, said villagers were compensated for their homes. They were paid about 115,000 dollars total, split among the group. However, they have refused to go. ANI