Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-02 02:40:00
Zafiry, a well-known figure in the Atsimo-Andrefana region. Former president of Fivondronona of Toliara II during the reign of Didier Ratsiraka (current district names), former advisor to this former president of the Republic, Zafiry is considered a well-known figure in the Atsimo-Andrefana region. An economic operator and current president of the association “Tahake Vezo”, he shares his thoughts on the political, social, and economic situation of the region. Despite his 76 years, Zafiry still depicts with clarity what he has experienced and what he recommends for the development of Toliara in general.
L’Express de Madagascar: Would you be a candidate in the upcoming legislative elections to represent the Toliara II district?
Zafiry: No, I am not and will not be a candidate for parliament. I will not engage in politics. I have served the nation too much. I have served for 42 years. And given my age, I will remain an observer and advisor when necessary.
Just how do you see the preparations and propaganda before the letters that we already see here and there for the Toliara parliamentary elections?
I can only say that those who will be elected will not be representatives of the populations of the constituencies. This is not just about Toliara but everywhere in Madagascar.
And why do you say they will not be representatives of the people?
Those who will be elected are those who have financial means, not just the required deposits but everything necessary for propaganda. Just talking about the Toliara II constituency that I know best, which of the communities or populations would be able to come up with 20 million ariary and other means to get elected? While a deputy should come from these populations and be accepted by them as truly belonging to their communities. Those who are currently officially or unofficially entering the race for the parliamentary elections do not belong to these communities. They are individuals with money looking for a golden place in the political sphere. They come from the top to mingle with those at the bottom and try to look good. However, they should come from the bottom to represent their peers at the top.
Those who will be elected will not then be deputies, according to you?
For me, they will be representatives of themselves and not the population. Like in the case of Toliara II where the deputies have not invested much in development but have mainly seized land, by consent or by force. A deputy, according to his own words, “bought” an entire fokontany in the municipality of Ankililoaka, Toliara II district. Where did the budgets for the CLD go? The small accomplishments demonstrated here and there are just evidence of expenditure from these funds but do not represent what Toliara II needs. This is not how one represents their communities in my opinion. In fact, I have never seen them speak in the National Assembly or propose laws on agricultural management or the increasing insecurity, even just for their constituency.
And what have you done regarding the abuses you denounce?
As a good citizen, I have just gone step by step and have indeed denounced all the abuses suffered by Toliara II to all authorities. I am eagerly awaiting the outcome of all my efforts. I just regret the fact that in Toliara in particular, the outlaws are feared by the law enforcement and all those who should enforce the law. And this apathetic state of the lawmakers is a form of not taking responsibility, a form of corruption, and a form of abuse of power at the same time.
Why are people afraid of outlaws or those above the law?
It’s simply the power of money. It’s a mentality ingrained for generations to always seek personal interests at the expense of the public interest in cases that concern the public. During the time of the State-owned company Fitaterana Malagasy (FIMA) when I was president of Fivondronona of Toliara II, the situation was very unfortunate. Forty vehicles still in very good working condition were sold, because they were wanted by the rich people of Toliara, at a paltry price of twenty million FMG or four million ariary. The same applied to companies Toly and Sumatex and the oil mill company or even Samangoky. The deterioration of the equipment of these companies was disguised so that they could be sold at that time. It was the rich people of Toliara themselves with the complicity of those who are supposed to enforce the law who destroyed Toliara and continue to do so unfortunately.
For you, will Toliara then remain an eternal cemetery of projects?
“Toliara cemetery of projects” was a strike slogan of the students of Maninday, who did not see the start of the construction of the university infrastructure of Toliara while the rest of the country already had theirs. And the slogan has remained since the problems of State-owned companies deliberately destroyed that I mentioned earlier. During the time of the Supreme Revolution Councilors (CSR), there were controversies with the economic management of Toliara that extended from Morondava to Tolagnaro. These CSR may not have lived up to expectations in enforcing the law. And it continues to this day. Those in power who succeeded have not been able to lift Toliara out of the flood of poverty. Toliara remains a cemetery of projects.
How then, who should do what to move Toliara forward?
I propose intensifying agricultural awareness campaigns conducted with the decentralized State services, securing farmers, canals, water sources, human and animal health, and especially putting a special emphasis on land security. An effective investment policy to establish a normal business climate in the Atsimo-Andrefana region, in the fishing, handicraft, tourism, and mining sectors. Base Toliara, for example, still remains unclear. And why are the official information kept vague precisely? It is not the decision-makers in Antananarivo who hinder the development of Toliara, it is Toliara itself. It’s like a Malagasy saying that translates loosely as a weak witch who only targets family members.
On the social side, what do you think of the recent law on the castration of rapists?
Young girls get married at 14 years old in remote communes of the Atsimo-Andrefana region. Can we consider their husbands as rapists then? I think other details will follow this law considering each specific case of crimes. There is also the issue of human rights.
Tell us a bit about the “Tahake Vezo” association. Is it a derived association of “Vavea”?
“Tahake Vezo” or Vezo model acts as a platform that resolves social conflicts. Depending on the cases presented, the members of the platform seek interveners to help resolve conflicts. For example, we intervened during the distribution of posters asking the “Ambaniandro” to return home. Or during serious threats to a judge coming from Fianarantsoa. We seek ways to resolve situations. Vavea (Vahatse ty Vezo Aharo) is an association that brings together the Vezo ethnic group.
Read the original article(French) on lexpress.mg
