Members of the parliamentary inquiry commission questioned Jirama officials during a hearing yesterday at Tsimbazaza. "This is a first in Madagascar," according to Pety Rakotoniaina, deputy elected in Ikalamavony. During a session held yesterday at Tsimbazaza, Jirama technicians and experts were questioned by representatives of the National Assembly, in the presence of members of the Court of Accounts. A parliamentary inquiry commission has been established to examine the management of the national water and electricity company.

Two main issues motivate this commission. The first concerns suspicions of embezzlement. "There is theft within Jirama," declared the deputy, commission president. "Large sums are committed without visible results, while certain production groups remain idle despite contracts funded by the State." The second concerns management dysfunctions. "Those responsible should not go unpunished, whether they embezzled money or engaged in collusion," he added.

Deputies also questioned management about subsidies granted between 2023 and 2026. "The budget allocated to Jirama reaches nearly 1,000 billion ariary. The company sells its electricity at a loss and benefits from substantial public subsidies. It must therefore be able to ensure quality service," they stated.

Facing deputies' questions, General Hajatiana Rasolomanana, Jirama's chief executive, presented the company's responses. He recalled that only 20% of Malagasy currently have access to Jirama services and detailed production capacity: "102 MW available out of nearly 200 MW installed for hydroelectricity, 119 MW out of 166 MW for thermal and 30 MW out of 55 MW for solar." Company officials also indicated that requested documents and files would be transmitted directly to the commission.

Deputies requested additional technical clarifications. "We will not give up and will see this investigation through to the end," declared Pety Rakotoniaina.