Antananarivo municipality issues 122 fines for hygiene violations

The Commune urbaine d’Antananarivo issued 122 fines during the first two months of enforcing the municipal hygiene code in the capital of Madagascar.

These sanctions target illegal wastewater discharge, the use of unsanitary toilets, and the sale of cooked food in conditions that do not meet hygiene standards. The director of water and sanitation for the city, Anjarasoa Maharavo Rasoanomenjanahary, stated that reports of unsanitary conditions in Antananarivo rose by 40 percent.

To address this increase, the municipality rearranged the work of 54 hygiene inspectors. These inspectors now maintain a permanent presence in each of the six districts to bring services closer to residents. The municipal code sets fines across five categories, ranging from 5,000 to 5 million ariary. The most frequent fine issued during this period was 50,000 ariary for wastewater and toilet violations. The city also increased the number of locations where people can pay fines from one to eight.

The municipality plans to digitize the management of complaints and citations in 2027 to encourage long term compliance with hygiene rules.