Madonna stripped of VIP status in Malawi and forced to check in with ordinary passengers

Madonna gets a taste of her own medicine.
Madonna was stripped of the VIP status afforded to her in Malawi after a public spat the country's president about her charitable work there.

Madonna and her spokesman were said to be apparently "very annoyed" by the change in their status but her children were apparently delighted to see how the other half live.The change in protocol, which was apparently prompted by an instruction from high up, meant the world famous pop singer was forced to queue, with her large entourage and children, to check in and go through airport security in the ordinary passenger terminal.

It came after a war of words broke out between the singer and the Malawian authorities. The country's education minister accused Madonna of "exaggerating" the extent of her charitable work in the country and a request by Madonna for an audience with President Joyce Banda was ignored.

The singer's spokesman claimed the president was acting on a "grudge" her sister Anjimile Oponyo had against the celebrity – having been sacked as the head of her charitable foundation for alleged theft. These allegations have been denied by Ms Oponyo.

VIPs flying into Malawi's Kamuzu International Airport are normally ferried to and from their planes by limousine and wait in a special lounge.

They have their passports checked and stamped, and their luggage handled, by special staff so do not have to queue.

When Madonna arrived in Malawi last Monday with her two adopted Malawian children, David and Mercy James, both eight, Rocco, 12, and 14-year-old Lourdes, she was treated as a VIP. It was in keeping with her previous visits to the country, when the Malawi government also provided her with heavy security.

But on Saturday night Malawi immigration officials refused to accord the same privileges to her party before she boarded her private Gulfstream jet.

Tit for tat..If you do me I go do you...hehehe