The Price of Silence: Why Malina’s Latest Investigation is a Wake-up Call for Malagasy Democracy
By organizing “The Investigator’s Lab” at the IKM Antsahavola, Malina, a network of investigative journalists, initiated by Transparency International-Initiative Madagascar (TI-MG), screened a documentary film titled “CSB Valamaty,” an investigation that sheds light on an abandoned public construction project and its human consequences. At the heart of the event also was a masterclass which highlighted the essential role of investigative journalism in citizen oversight of public action. The event also provided an opportunity for journalists and students to share experiences. Voices for Democracy and Justice in Africa had the opportunuty to attend this event which aligns its mission.
The documentary film recounts the story of a basic health center, “manarapenitra” (standard compliant) promised during presidential election in 2018 in Amboangivy, in the district of Faratsiho. Six years later, only the foundations of this publicly funded project remain. Meanwhile, residents, particularly pregnant women, face long walks to reach the nearest hospital, some never arriving. By exposing these realities, Malina's journalists remind us that, beyond official pronouncements, delays in public infrastructure have a human cost.
By screening the documentary “CSB Valamaty,” Malina has done more than just report on a construction site; they have exposed the gap between political rhetoric and the lived reality of the Malagasy people. At Voices for Democracy and Justice, we recognize that every abandoned brick is a violation of the social contract. When a government fails to complete a clinic, it isn't just a "budgetary delay", it is a direct assault on the right to health and dignity.
The Toxic Cycle of Ghost Projects
The investigation highlights a dangerous trend in public procurement: the normalization of fictitious progress. The "bad practices" cited, ranging from the selection of unqualified contractors to the total lack of on-site supervision are not accidental errors. They are the result of a system that often prioritizes political optics over sustainable utility. When contracts are treated as rewards for loyalty rather than responsibilities to the public, the result is a graveyard of unfinished projects. This "ghost infrastructure" drains the national treasury while leaving citizens to fend for themselves in the face of illness and poverty.
Journalists who carried out the documentary film "CSB Valamaty"
Furthermore, these practices thrive in the absence of consequences. For democracy to function, there must be a mechanism where contractors who abandon their posts and the officials who look the other way are held publicly and legally accountable. Without a clear "blacklist" for failing companies and a transparent audit of every Ariary spent, the cycle of waste will simply repeat with the next election cycle. We must stop celebrating the launch of projects and start demanding their completion.
Transparency: The Only Path to Justice
We cannot have justice without transparency. The Malina investigation serves as a masterclass in why access to information is a fundamental human right. When the public is kept in the dark about how tenders are awarded or why work has stopped, corruption finds its perfect breeding ground. Transparency is not a luxury; it is the structural support of a healthy society. It allows the grandmother in Faratsiho to ask, "Where did the money for my village's clinic go?" and receive a real answer.
Voices for Democracy and Justice in Africa stands firmly with the investigative journalists who risk their safety to bring these facts to light. By training the next generation of reporters in advanced data analysis and investigative techniques, Malina is building a "civic watch" that is essential for our nation’s future. True democracy isn't just about the ballot box; it’s about the daily accountability of those in power to the people they serve.
Moving Forward
The abandoned clinic in Amboangivy must be more than a sad story. It must be the catalyst for a national demand for better governance. We call on our readers to support independent media and to refuse to accept "manara-penitra" promises that never materialize into "manara-penitra" realities. For future elections, citizens must reflect on any promises and material offered in exchange for their votes.
