Covid-19 in Madagascar: facts of corruption revealed by an investigation by Transparency International
While 55% of respondents deem it useful to continue deploying social protection measures, more than one in four people reported acts of corruption during the distribution of aid related to the coronavirus.
© Sarah Tétaud / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
6 min
New warning shot in Madagascar.
The organization Transparency international initiative Madagascar has just unveiled extracts from a survey - entitled "Covid-19 and governance: lessons learned from the first phase of the health crisis in Madagascar" - which it conducted for four months with more than 400 households receiving social assistance received during the pandemic.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Madagascar,
Sarah Tétaud
More than one in four people questioned by the Transparency international Initiative Madagascar survey denounces acts of corruption during the distribution of social assistance linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This report also questions the relevance of the choices made regarding the distribution of these funds.
The analysis of the budget breakdown of the Multisectoral Emergency Plan (PMDU), the government's flagship document adopted in July 2020 at the height of the pandemic, shows that out of a total budget of $ 826.09 million, 35% were allocated to infrastructure.
Health, on the other hand, was financed up to 9.37% of the overall budget, and is therefore in fourth position in the budget distribution.
An aberration for Transparency international initiative Madagascar and its executive director Ketakandriana Rafitoson: "
We are in a health crisis and the first response must be health
".
For the researcher, Madagascar has always suffered from an excessively low health budget, despite the signing by the Malagasy State of the Abuja declaration in 2001, in which the signatory countries pledged that this particular budget constitute at least 15% of the general budget.
"
We have never reached this ratio
," says Ms. Rafitoson.
"
Result, despite the massive influx of international aid, we are still in the same chaotic state in terms of the health response
," she concludes.
Transparency international is surprised
As for the emergency plan set up to counter the pandemic, Transparency International is surprised: "
We have the impression that the PMDU is the means found by the regime to implement the presidential program
(called today ' hui PEM for Plan emergence Madagascar, but which two years after the election of the President, has never been revealed, despite numerous communications announcing "
an imminent publication
", Editor's note).
If we look at the part of the investment dedicated to infrastructure, for the president it is a question of carrying out his projects promised during the campaign while we are in a pandemic context, so the priorities should be elsewhere.
And, what is more, we know that the great part of these funds come from donations and international aid therefore dedicated mainly to the health crisis.
"
According to the study, the Parliament was not involved in the management of the crisis, contrary to its assigned role of "
checks and balances to the executive
".
“This
is a danger.
This should be avoided if we had to go through a new phase of crisis,
”analyzes the political scientist.
Also, in its report, the NGO recommends that the authorities involve all the institutions in the management of the crisis and not take advantage of it to create populism by carrying out, for example, "
projects that are not a priority in the eyes. of the health situation.
"
Recurring corruption
Another pitfall pointed out in the report: recurrent situations of corruption reported by respondents, during the distribution of social assistance created during the pandemic (the
Vatsy Tsinjo
, that is to say a kit of basic necessities including rice, sugar, oil; the
Tosika Fameno
, i.e. monetary assistance by
cash
transfer
;
Tsena Mora
, i.e. markets in which food is subsidized) , ranging from favoritism to the abuse of power, including the diversion of these social safety nets.
“
To really avoid the repetition of cases of corruption during the next probable wave of Covid-19
, therefore this report points out,
we must first open up clear channels of communication;
to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are truly informed of their eligibility for the benefit.
And we must ensure that there is a coordinated complaint mechanism at the level of all actors.
Humanitarian, government, etc., who are involved in this process so that beneficiaries can have recourse to these institutions in particular to complain about corruption.
"
What return for the grievances?
During the distribution of aid, complaints mechanisms were put in place for people who could not find their name on the lists of beneficiaries.
A grievance unit dedicated specifically to corruption in times of Covid-19 has also been opened at the level of the Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau, "
but no return has ever been made
" laments Transparency.
Also, the NGO defines as "
crucial and priority
" the activation of the joint anti-corruption unit provided for in the PMDU system but which has so far never worked.
“
This unit
,” recalls the researcher, “
has the function of systematically monitoring the Covid-19 procurement process.
However, this total opacity around public contracts linked to Covid-19 is one of the big black spots in crisis management
”.
“
The government has declared that the fight against corruption is one of its top priorities.
This health crisis is the ultimate opportunity to demonstrate and concretize this real desire to fight against corruption,
”concludes Ketakandriana Rafitoson.
When asked, the authorities did not respond to our requests for a reaction.
►
Read also: Covid-19 in Madagascar: civil society calls on the authorities on vaccines
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Madagascar
Coronavirus
Health and medicine
Corruption
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