Huh, yeah? Yes, so we have to make do with what’s there, with what we’re given, with the endemic and horrifying little phrase “zara ary misy anzao ko” 🤣

Looool, mediocrity in all its splendor, yes!

And you’ve been surprised for 65 years to find yourself in such a… how can I put this politely? No, it’s not surprising, it’s the direct consequence of such a mentality.

Always in small mode, in minimum service mode. No attention to detail, functionality, or beauty.

C’est bien de construire des stades grandioses

“On a décidé de construire ce beau stade sur la base des normes de la FIFA”

I’ve already had the opportunity to write on the subject, so I’m going to hammer it home today.

Be careful, unlike some, I’m not saying that we should resort to sensationalism, the spectacular, or the dazzling at all costs.

I’m just saying that it would already be an incredible step forward to do things in accordance with standards, international or otherwise, without trying to reinvent the wheel for what already exists, which is documented and proven.

If the instructions tell you, for example, 3 x 3 meters on each side, and a 1 meter separation between the two… please give me one damn good reason not to do 3 x 3 meters on each side and a 1 meter separation in the middle?

But rather 2 x 2.5 meters and 50 centimeters in the middle? To cut costs? To save a penny? To pocket the difference? Because we’re in Madagougou and “zara ary misy anzao ko“?

In the end, you end up with a dangerous mess, and you weren’t even aware of it when you decided to downsize.

“Tsy adala ny vazaha,” we all know the saying. And this isn’t their first highway; they have decades of experience.

And their current recommendations are a direct result of this valuable knowledge base.

Then the manampahaizana tsy maintsy mandroso arrived and laid these first 8 kilometers, which are more shameful than anything else.

And it’s when you see this kind of thing that you realize that the Director of International Affairs isn’t entirely wrong.

Madagougou has plenty of professors… but hasn’t anyone from the cream of the crop pointed out that this AR1 highway isn’t up to standard at all?

I’m not an expert, nor a professor, nor a doctoral student. But when I embark on a project, even in the pre-project phase, I devote a lot of time to assessing the situation.

What’s the current situation, what are the standards, what are the best practices, what tools do we have, what’s missing, what could possibly be improved, etc. Basically, a feasibility study whose output will be binary: go or no go?

A methodical and very precise questioning, fa tsy hoe tonga dia alefaaa, mety io, vitantsika io ram’s a, come what may.

It’s the best way to make a mess, yes. The proof.