Blantyre, Malawi - A leaked contractual agreement with government for First Lady Callista Mutharika for her charitable chores as National Coordinator for Safe Motherhood ran vitriol in Malawian newspapers this week. 'Opposition Faults Government On Economy, Governance' was the headline in The Nation, quoting opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary finance spokesman Joseph Njobvuyalema as querying government to explain whether it is true the First Lady drew 12 million Malawi Kwacha (about US$80,000) in allowances since her appointment last May.

'We're informed that the occupant draws up to K12m for electricity, water, fuel, cell phone and housing allowances yet she is not living in her own house to justify such allowances,' the daily quoted the legislator as saying.

Njobvulama's Parliament floor ranting looks like a preamble for the weekend papers as both the Weekend Nation and Malawi News ran front-page exposes of Madam Mutharikas's hefty salaries and perks.

'First Lady Gets Over K1m Salary' was the headline in the Weekend Nation reporting that the First Lady has entered into a three-year contract with government as National Coordinator for Safe Motherhood on a salary of
K1,138,000 (slightly over US$7,500) a month.

The weekly reported that this lucrative salary equals what Vice-President Joyce Banda receives in a month while cabinet minister get around 800,000
Malawi Kwacha (slightly over US $5,300) a month.

Ironically Mrs. Banda, who has since fallen out with President Bingu wa Mutharika over succession squabbles, was removed from the safe motherhood position from where she used to get nothing.

Under the headline 'Callista Gets Salary Arrears', Malawi News reported that government officials were mum to comment on why the First Lady is 'being paid a salary for a job considered normal charity work that a first lady is supposed to do'. One official was candid enough to say this is a 'sensitive matter'.

Street protest by civil rights groups over persistent fuel shortages and university lecturers and students over 'academic freedoms' and unhonoured allowances also dominated the media.

'Lecturers Demand Academic Freedom', screamed The Nation, reporting on a sit-in by lecturers at Chancellor College, the main constituent college of the University of Malawi, over reports that Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito summoned political science lecturer, Dr. Blessings Chinsinga, over allegations that he was inciting his students to rise against government.

The lecturer had apparent told his class that the insurrection that toppled the Egyptian government of Hosni Mubarak was sparked by little things like the current fuel crisis in Malawi.

According to the daily, some of his students are police informants who reported him to authorities.

It was not only lecturers that held demonstrations in the past week. The Nation reported, under the headline 'Police Foil Protest', that heavily armed police officers detained civil rights leaders who had planned street demonstrations in the capital, Lilongwe, to protest against persistent fuel shortages.

University students also did not want to miss out on the action. 'Poly Students, Police Clash' and 'Violence In Zomba' were the headlines in The Daily Times and the Weekend Nation reporting on violent demonstrations by Polytechnic and Chancellor College students in Blantyre and the eastern city of Zomba respectively over slashed and delayed book and stationery allowances.

The week also saw reports of Muslims faulting government on governance issues and government's desperate efforts to engage the media over donors' concerns over repressive media laws.

Pana 19/02/2011