Some Malagasies are expressing worrythe government is incapable of resolving the ongoing political crisis, despite itshigh approval rating by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). After holding a five day consultation withAntananarivo, a six-man delegation from the regional body said they were satisfied withPresident Andry Rajoelina's High Transitional Authority's (HTA) efforts toestablish peace and democracy. SADC also expressed willingness to lend ahelping hand to the transitional government in restoring constitutional orderahead of the election.
Patricia Rajeriarison is a resident of the capital, Antananarivo.She told VOA that Malagasies seem to be fed up with politicians.
"Firstof all people are tired of the whole situation because it is still very unsafe,uncertain and there is total lack of visibility," Rajeriarison said.
She said some Malagasiesseem to have lost faith in both the president and the former president.
"And I guess they are not happy with(former president) Ravalomanana because finally he is the cause of all thesituation because he managed the crisis so badly. And they are not happy withRajoelina because he has said so many things, and finally concretely there isnothing happening except that the prices are growing high, the currency isdepreciating," she said.
Rajeriarison saidPresident Rajoelina has so far not been able to live up to his promises.
"He announced that ricewould be for free to the people, but then this is only temporary. And they(Malagasies) all know that the rice has been taken from Ravalomanana's company andthey still sell it at a very low price. But they don't take into account thefact that they also don't allow the local rice producer to sell their own ricebecause they cannot compete with that rice," Rajeriarison said.
She said there areindications that President Rajoelina's recent actions are reminiscent of theformer president.
"For the time being he isjust behaving like Ravalomanana behaved before. He does not allow theopposition to express itself, he has closed opposition radio stations and thereis the military repression. So people say that it is as if it is the samebehavior but it is a different person. So it is very strange and they say it isonly copy and paste and that he (Rajoelina) is doing exactly the same mistakesthat Ravalomanana did," she said.
Rajeriarison said someMalagasies have lost faith in politicians.
"I guess it is a question ofconfidence. People are so tired of politicians and the way they behave and theydon't trust them anymore. So, I guess they have to do more than just sayingthings," Rajeriarison said.
She said there seem to be an uneasy calm that has returned to the capital after protesters of formerPresident Ravalomanana clashed with security agents.
"It has been very quiet forthe last three days and somewhere you know that it is not going to last becausethings remain unsettled. So what is still strange to cope with is this waitingand we don't know what to expect because you know well that this isnot the final settlement and that is the general feeling," she said.
Rajeriarison said the exact location of the former president, now inexile, is unclear.
"We know that he is inSouthern Africa probably in South Africa, but I think he is in Ethiopia in somemeeting. That is what has been announced today," Rajeriarison said.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) maintains it does not have anyintention of sending armed troops to Madagascar to help former PresidentMarc Ravalomanana to return home.