The surroundings of Lake Anosy are attracting an increasing number of street vendors. On the sidewalks encircling the lake, goods are now spread directly on the ground, sometimes extending as far as the area in front of the Saint-Michel school. Some vendors have only been there for a few weeks.
“I arrived here two weeks ago. I worked as a driver for a company, but I ended up unemployed following a technical layoff. Since then, I haven’t found work, even though I have mouths to feed, bills, and rent to pay. This trade is the only solution I found to get by. And I haven’t found any other place to sell than here,” testified a man selling DIY items this week.
Men and women, sometimes accompanied by their children, sell shoes, household linen, clothing, books, and even fruits there. This proliferation of stalls is also accompanied by sanitation problems. Waste is left on the ground, and some occupants use the lake’s surroundings to relieve themselves. “They are degrading the landscape of the lake,” local residents regret.
The Urban Commune of Antananarivo reminds that commerce is prohibited around the lake. “We plan to conduct a cleanup operation there,” indicates the director of markets for the commune.
The vendors say they are aware of the irregular nature of their installation. “But we have nowhere else to go,” they explain. They say they are ready to leave the premises “if the commune offers us an interesting location.”
However, their relocation could prove difficult. For these traders, the challenge is not just to have a spot in a market, but above all to benefit from the visibility and foot traffic offered by a roadside location.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-22 06:23:33 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/antananarivo-des-commercants.html