The HAT imposing its rules to control the economy and the investors

Totalitarian deviations are no more an exception, be it on the political or on the economic fields. The transitional power decided to import rice and sugar in order to curve the price rise. The regime is keen on compelling traders to lower their prices by directly competing with them, while avoiding any risk of dropping popularity.

The HAT demonstrated its negotiating skills, namely by getting rice for US$464 per ton, whereas international courses are rating it to US$485. The operation is aiming at recovering 1200 Ariary per kilogram as a consumer price, instead of the current 1400 to 1600 Ariary. The HAT equally expects to recover Ar2000 per kilogram of sugar.

The quantity deemed to be imported by the state is however still being debated. Madagascar would have not run out of rice and sugar, according to the authorities. Price rises are officially been blamed on speculations. The state wants to compel traders to put their reserves on the market and searches are consequently being conducted into storage rooms of investors suspected of deliberately retaining goods. The former mayor of Antananarivo promised to lower basic goods´ prices in the run out of his propaganda campaign in 2009. In 2011, prices skyrocketed.

Investors in the telecommunication sector equally have to suffer from the HAT´s greed. The decision to impose a watchdog on international communications would immediately be transferring US$30 millions from investors to the state, plus 10 millions more per year during five years in a row. Could the thesis of a favor deemed to be granted to the power´s proxies ever be ruled out, the main incentive would become a solid grip on telecommunication.

Rajoelina accused President Ravalomanana in 2009 of “selling out” the ancestral land as Daewoo Corporation was meant to “rent” 8 millions of hectares during 30 years. But now he is the one definitely selling it out to any foreigner willing to settle in Madagascar: foreigners only have to order a building, a political decision pledging foreign construction companies. New comers are very likely to stem from China and France, the HAT´s allies in the exploitation of Madagascar´s mineral wealth. 1million ha large slices of lands with buildings on them are being sold to foreigners… and the hell with ancestral issues