From left to right, foreground: the Ambassador of Japan, Abé Koji, President Andry Rajoelina, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Fidiniavo Ravokatra and the new President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the city of Antananarivo Ramanambitana Richard
There is no denying: barely appointed, the new President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the city of Antananarivo Ramanambitana Richard benefited from the support without reimbursement of Japanese cooperation, through JICA (« Japan International Cooperation Agency »). This is the independent Japanese government Agency for International Cooperation, which coordinates Japan’s official development assistance
Thus, JICA’s “Clean City” initiative joins the challenges of the Malagasy government to quickly clean up the capital of Madagascar.
On March 4, 2024, the President of the Republic, Andry Rajoelina, officially received the first batch of equipment, as part of the presentation of a non-refundable donation to finance the “Solid Waste Management Equipment Improvement Project for the Clean City in Antananarivo”. This, in the presence of the Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Fidiniavo Ravokatra, the Minister of Decentralization and Territorial Planning and former Mayor of the Urban Commune of Antananarivo, Naina Andriantsitohaina, the new President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of Antananarivo Ramanambitana Richard as well as the Director General of the Municipal Sanitation Company (SMA), Colonel Razafimanahaka Tiana.
The equipment was handed over by the Ambassador of Japan, Abé Koji, accompanied by the Resident Representative of JICA in Madagascar, Tanaka Kaori. Remember that this non-refundable donation project, to the tune of 845,000,000 Yen, the global equivalent of 26 billion Ariary, was launched in June 2022 in order to strengthen the solid waste management capacity in the city of Antananarivo and by providing equipment related to waste collection, thus helping to improve the health environment.
The project schedule confirms a delivery including: 32 multi-dump trucks; 6 dump trucks for collecting and transporting waste; 2 dump trucks for operating the Andralanitra landfill site; 1 bulldozer; 2 excavators; 189 garbage bins; 2 pickups; 6 off-road motorcycles and a store of repair tools and spare parts. This delivery is accompanied by training on the use of these new materials for the Municipal Sanitation Company (SMA).
This new equipment reinforces that currently owned by the SMA. Furthermore, JICA is also committed to providing capacity building for the SMA through the “Solid Waste Management System Improvement Project in Antananarivo”, a technical cooperation project commonly called GESDA which will expand until 2026.
For President Andry Rajoelina, the issue of garbage in the capital of Madagascar should not stop there: « Currently, the Capital has more than three million people. When the rainy season comes, and therefore cyclones, the waters rise, the garbage accumulates… Since it is our responsibility to clean the city and provide solutions to the sanitation of the city, it is there’s no excuse”. Furthermore, added the Malagasy Head of State: “as an elected official or person appointed to a position of responsibility, our role is to provide solutions to problems”. And he added that by the end of this year 2024, a waste incineration and recycling plant must be set up and operational.
As stated in the title, the new PDS is very lucky with JICA but also the directives of President Andry Rajoelina. Did you know that Ramanambitana means, in Malagasy: to be lucky? Let’s hope that as an interim, this Senator will not be attracted by the sirens of a candidacy for the position of full Mayor… We must remember, here, that if a mayor is elected, a PDS is appointed by an order from the Ministry of the Interior.
Time will tell.
Jeannot Ramambazafy
