Madagascar: mixed results for the fight against corruption
View of Lake Anosy in July 2009, in the center of the city of Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar.
Sascha Grabow / Wikimedia
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Madagascar, "Zero tolerance for corruption" is the objective declared by the executive.
But, according to the bodies responsible for evaluating the achievements of the fight against corruption, the results remain inconclusive.
Worse, some punitive laws ratified a few years ago are being unraveled, while others, eagerly awaited, are slow to be voted on.
On Wednesday again, the CSI, the Integrity Protection Committee, a major player in this fight, alerted to these practices contrary to the government's commitments.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Antananarivo
,
Sarah Tétaud
The coming months will be crucial for the fight against corruption in the country, as the projects underway can strengthen or on the contrary weaken the existing fight mechanisms.
First, there is the law on PACs, anti-corruption poles (special courts responsible for repression), adopted in 2016, which has just undergone major changes in the National Assembly to in particular limit their powers and independence.
For Sahondra Rabenarivo, the president of the Integrity Protection Committee, there is a danger.
She calls on the Senate to reject this bill.
“
We believe that there is a threat to the anti-corruption system, and in particular the PACs, which is contrary to commitments, to electoral promises, to general State policy.
It is clear that it comes from people who feel embarrassed by the current system, or from people who do not understand it, or who cannot manipulate the system to their advantage.
There are people who are used to saying to a magistrate '' put this one in jail '' and it is embarrassing when the magistrate can say '' no '' and is protected by a system.
"
"No
more unconditional funding
"
2021 should also mark the end of the period of Covid funds.
And allow, according to Sahondra Rabenarivo, more transparency.
“
There will be no more unconditional funding.
It's over.
So from now on, we will have to meet the conditions of the donors.
Funding from donors is the taxes of the citizens of these countries.
They have the right to ask: '' if I give 1 dollar to Madagascar, will 85 cents go into the minister's pocket? ''.
They have the right to demand accountability.
So it's the end of recess.
And it is also turning off the taps, that is to say by identifying the possibilities of corruption, at what stage can the money be diverted.
And then turn off those taps.
We must encourage and sanction - which we do not see enough - within the ministries.
What we are aiming for are lasting reforms that will make it impossible to misappropriate public funds.
Whether in a “Covid” context or otherwise.
"
The CSI recommends strengthening the protection of whistleblowers and raising awareness among citizens, key players in establishing better governance.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Madagascar
Corruption
On the same subject
Covid-19 in Madagascar: a trade fair to promote national tourism
Reportage
Madagascar: the tombs of Antananarivo, an architectural heritage in danger
Madagascar: inauguration with great pomp of the restored queen's palace