COVID-19 candy plan: Madagascar minister’s $2.2m sweet tooth ache

Madagascar’s education minister was sacked Thursday after announcing a plan to buy sweets for students to take the edge off the “bitter taste” of a herbal tea the president says is a coronavirus remedy.

Minister Rijasoa Andriamanana said last week she was ordering $2.2 million worth of sweets to go with the Covid-Organics concoction, which some experts have warned is useless against COVID-19.

Sweets and lollipops

She told the press that “a purchase of sweets and lollipops” had been made, with all students in the Indian Ocean island nation to receive three each.

She added that it was for the “bitter taste” of the drink, which President Andry Rajoelina has been promoting for export, saying it is the country’s “green gold” which will “change history”.

The potential benefits of Covid-Organics, have not been validated by any scientific study. 

That such expense was going to sweets in one of the world’s poorest country’s sparked outrage, fanned by the Malagasy press, and the order was cancelled.

The minister defended the plan, but it was not considered by the cabinet, which relieved her of her duties in a dry statement.

Lockdown protests

On Wednesday, scuffles broke out between Madagascar police and protesters as citizens took to the streets in the eastern town of Toamasina to denounce anti-coronavirus lockdown measures.

Tensions flared after a police officer allegedly beat a street vendor accused of breaching an afternoon ban on commercial activities, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Pictures of the man lying on the ground were shared on social media, sparking anger among the town’s residents.

Protesters burned tyres, blocked roads and threw stones at security forces, who responded with rubber bullets.

Police denied committing any form of violence and claim the street vendor had returned home after a brief hospital visit.

By Agence France-Presse