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 
 
¶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