Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANTANANARIVO1289
2006-11-17 05:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:  

President Ravalomanana Launches Madagascar Action Plan

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM EAID ECON SENV PINR MA 
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VZCZCXRO1760
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHAN #1289 3210537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170537Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3870
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0723
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001289 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID ECON SENV PINR MA
SUBJECT: President Ravalomanana Launches Madagascar Action Plan

REF: A) ANTANANARIVO 1269
B) ANTANANARIVO 405

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001289

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID ECON SENV PINR MA
SUBJECT: President Ravalomanana Launches Madagascar Action Plan

REF: A) ANTANANARIVO 1269
B) ANTANANARIVO 405


1. (SBU) In a cleverly-timed publicity event November 10 -- two
days before other candidates could officially campaign -- President
Ravalomanana unveiled his Madagascar Action Plan (MAP) to media, GOM
officials, donors, and others at Antananarivo's main sports stadium
(ref A). The "MAP" is the GOM's official five-year strategic
document to implement the President's vision of "Madagascar
Naturellement," and is meant to replace the country's Poverty
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) effective January 1, 2007. The MAP
is also the brainchild of Harvard Professor Dean Williams,
ringleader of foreign gurus assembled at the Presidency.


2. (SBU) Building in part on the consultative process required to
complete the first Millennium Challenge Compact in April 2005, the
President's team conducted extensive consultations throughout
Madagascar's 22 regions over the last several months. Few Embassy
interlocutors in top positions reported working on much of anything
else of late. "This is the business of the entire nation,"
Ravalomanana declared, underlining the Plan was written by mayors
and other regional officials, civil society, private sector
operators, and "simple citizens."

The End of "Mora-Mora"
--------------


3. (SBU) Donors and observers generally accept the MAP,
particularly its process, as a positive -- if somewhat
over-ambitious -- strategy for Madagascar's future (ref B). Post,
along with the World Bank, European Union and other major donors, is
cautiously optimistic the plan will encourage development; with the
key caveat that motivation and efficiency must be maintained
throughout implementation. The MAP predictably addresses the
country's many development challenges and attacks President
Ravalomanana's top concern: the prevailing "Mora-Mora" (slowly,
slowly) complacent attitude of most Malagasy. The President,
labeled an "alien" by some for his unique dynamism and
entrepreneurship, insists rapid development is possible if the
Malagasy change their mentality.


4. (U) The MAP is a five year plan with eight priorities:
responsible government, reliable infrastructure, transforming
education, rural development, family planning and combating
HIV/AIDS, strong economic growth, environment, and national
solidarity. Each axis of effort includes a detailed strategy, down
to the regional and local level, complete with metrics to hold
responsible officials accountable.


5. (U) The eighth platform, national solidarity, includes
ambitious development priorities to promote equitable growth,
protection of the most vulnerable persons, and investment in women.
In summarizing his development priorities, the President seeks to
"forge a strong and unified national identity which respects and
values the multiple Malagasy traditions."

Campaigning for Development Priorities
--------------


6. (SBU) To the extent Malagasy voters care about the issues,
President Ravalomanana, with his MAP and campaign platform, is the
only candidate to articulate a detailed plan for Madagascar's
development. For that matter, he is alone among 14 candidates in
talking about the future. Perhaps given the simple common sense of
the MAP, or its broad consultative process, to date not one
opposition candidate has criticized Ravalomanana's Plan or offered
an alternative. Instead, candidates obsess about the 2002 crisis,
call Ravalomanana illegitimate, call for the December 3 election
date to be postponed on constitutional grounds, and demand a
transitional government (septel).

COMMENT:
--------------


7. (SBU) At a minimum, President Ravalomanana had the sense to
hire a speechwriter with his or her pulse on the heart of the
Malagasy people (and the donors). While sometimes met with
skepticism, his MAP does resonate with ordinary citizens, to the
extent they have time to pay attention, as well as the elites. Post
assesses the MAP is more than campaign promises, and embodies the
impatient businessman's burning desire to lead "Madagascar Inc."
into big profits in the coming years, just as Ravalomanana did with
his Tiko empire. END COMMENT.

McGee