Renowned South African songster Yvonne Chakachaka, who is also the UNICEF Special Ambassador on Malaria in Eastern and Southern Africa, has offered to adopt a 13-year-old Malawian girl identified as Helen after she was touched by her plight of poverty.

Helen, who lost her mother some years ago and now stays with her father and siblings, won an impromptu best dance accolade at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe where Chakachaka was performing on January1, 2011.

Chakachaka fished out a $100 bill and handed it to the girl and when asked what she was going to do with the money- Helen responded, “I am going to buy food for the family.”

Chakachaka wept openly and she immediately announced that she would adopt the girl.

Legal constraints

Helen will be waiting for adoption procedures to be completed before leaving to join Chakachaka in South Africa.

Chakachaka who was on a three-day visit to Malawi also visited a health centre in the capital Lilongwe to drum up support toward an immunisation programme.

If the adoption process succeeds, Chakachaka will be the second international musician to adopt a Malawian child after the American pop star Madonna who has already adopted two.

Madonna however faced legal constraints during the second adoption process as Malawian law only allows foreigners who have been resident in the country for over 18 months to adopt children.

However, the country's Supreme Court ruled in favour of Madonna. It is yet to be seen if Chakachaka will also enjoy the same favour