The announcement of provisional legislative election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) on Tuesday, June 11th, marks the end of a vibrant electoral cycle. During this period, the impoverished neighborhoods of Antananarivo experienced a surge of attention and generosity from candidates, who distributed rice, money, and the usual campaign promises. Now, as the election fervor fades, residents of these disadvantaged areas return to their routine, carrying a sense of disillusionment.
A group of women gathers around our microphone on a cobbled street near a second-hand clothing stall. They discuss the electoral promises made to the residents of the Anatihazo neighborhood, expressing their skepticism about any significant life changes.
Mbolatiana, an unemployed local, is particularly frustrated, having received only half of the money promised in exchange for participating in a candidate’s campaign rallies. “It’s disappointing; we feel manipulated. On the last day of the campaign, we walked a long, long way behind him to show our support. In the end, we got 2,000 ariary instead of the promised 5,000,” she explains.
Behind his food stall, Rado, a street vendor, watches for customers. He stayed away from the campaign but shares his dismay at seeing his neighbors, mostly women, deceived by politicians. “It’s disheartening because nothing has changed. People have no choice but to accept what they’re given because they are poor. They’re treated like animals lured with rice, and once the elections are over, politicians ignore them.”
This infernal pattern, recurring with every election, is something Haingo, a member of the local civil society, has observed for years. He asserts that residents exploit the situation, given their lack of real engagement with any political program. “The residents already know that once the elections are over, they shouldn’t expect anything from the elected officials. So, they think they just have to wait until the municipal elections in November to receive more gifts.”
As the last electoral event before a five-year hiatus, the upcoming municipal elections in November are expected to bring the same cycle of promises and disappointments to these marginalized neighborhoods.