Residents demand progress on stalled projects

Residents of Vahibé are growing increasingly frustrated over delays in two critical projects: the reconstruction of the Vahibé 1 elementary school and the maternal and child protection center (PMI). The lack of updates from public authorities has led to public anger and calls for urgent action.

Vahibé 1 school remains in disrepair

The Vahibé 1 elementary school, managed by the city of Mamoudzou, has been on hold since the laying of the first stone in December 2025. Originally intended to be renovated before the Chido cyclone, the school was completely destroyed by the storm and now requires almost complete reconstruction. Students are currently attending Vahibé 2 school, which is overcrowded and struggling to accommodate the additional students.

Modular classrooms added to ease overcrowding

To address the overcrowding at Vahibé 2 school, the city has set up modular classrooms and begun constructing a new school to increase capacity. However, parents have criticized the frequent rotations of students between schools, which they say disrupts education and adds stress to families.

PMI project halted for years

The maternal and child protection center (PMI), designed to improve access to healthcare through telehealth and telemedicine, has been halted for several years. The partially constructed building is in disrepair, with reports that the basement has become a squat despite the presence of a caretaker. The project is estimated to cost 2.32 million euros, co-financed by the Department-Region and the European Union.

Recent efforts to resume PMI construction

In December 2025, the Department relaunched several construction lots for the PMI, including work on the roof, electricity, plumbing, and waterproofing. A deadline for submitting bids was set for January 23, 2026. However, no public information has been released since then to confirm the resumption of construction or establish a delivery schedule.

Residents frustrated by lack of communication

Ibrahim Traoré, an engaged resident, expressed frustration with the lack of communication from public authorities. He noted that the city of Mamoudzou is waiting for the notification of the state subsidy decree, which is supposed to fund a large part of the work on the Vahibé 1 school. The mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaïla, previously estimated the duration of the work at 27 months, with a total cost of 12.5 million euros.

Department-Region claims PMI is in progress

The Department-Region states that the PMI project is "in progress," but has not provided further details on the schedule or the current state of the construction site. Traoré and other residents plan to gather documents to initiate legal action and are prepared to demonstrate in municipal buildings if necessary.

Residents push for collective action

Traoré and others argue that the issues in Vahibé are not isolated and affect all who use the national roads of Vahibé and Tsoundzou. They emphasize the need for collective action to ensure educational opportunities for children and to pressure authorities to address the stalled projects.