The singer, dressed in combat trousers, a khaki T-shirt and black boots, was greeted by singing women and children as she inspected the maize crop and storage facilities and stood by the fish pond.

Her daughter, Lourdes, looked bemused at the crushing poverty in Mtanga which, like most Malawian village, consists of simple dirt huts with no electricity or running water.

Toddler David, who Madonna is in the process of adopting, did not accompany them.

Madonna visited the country last autumn and took custody of the then 14-month-old, who was in an orphanage after the death of his mother.

The move sparked controversy and raised concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country. The singer maintains she has followed the law.

Malawian child welfare officials are expected to file a report on the suitability of Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie, as adoptive parents after two trips to their London residence in May and December.

Rumours that the celebrity was to start the process of adopting another child on this trip have been strongly denied.

MALAWI MADONNA - April 16 2007
Preparations are under way for a return visit to Malawi by pop star Madonna, who is adopting a child from the southern African country where her charity does work among its many Aids orphans.

The orphanages and care centres she has been involved with have been freshly painted and spruced up while security around the exclusive lodge where the star stayed last year has been tightened.

Madonna’s plans to adopt toddler David Banda sparked an international controversy and raised concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

It is also not clear whether she will be accompanied by David or any other members of her family.

Rumours that the celebrity was to adopt another child have been strongly denied.

Madonna’s New York-based publicist Liz Rosenberg said the star was going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation. "She is overseeing the building of a children’s health care centre. She is absolutely not adopting another baby," she said in a statement.

Yacinta Chapomba, a director of local aid group Consol Homes, which has been involved with Madonna’s organisation in the building of a children’s care centre, said an official opening ceremony would be held at the centre. She could not confirm whether the star would attend.

The centre in the impoverished village of Mphandula, 30 miles outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to Aids.

There has also been much activity at the Home of Hope orphanage where David was cared for. The road to the village of Mchinji have been upgraded, new flowers planted and the children have received new uniforms. Three local police officers have been posted at the orphanage.

Madonna, 48, and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim court order on October 12 allowing them to take initial custody of then 14-month-old David. The singer has two other children, Lourdes, 9, and Rocco, 6.

No second adoption for Madonna - April 13 2007
Madonna is indeed heading back to Africa this weekend, but won’t be returning with another adopted child, her spokeswoman has said.

Dispelling rumours that the queen of pop is planning to expand her family by adopting a second African infant during the return trip to Malawi, Madonna’s long-time rep, Liz Rosenberg, told the New York Post, "She is absolutely not adopting another baby."

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