In a country in the midst of an electoral campaign for the upcoming general elections, the Comoros faces a major challenge: inflation. With a high inflation rate of 12.5%, reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies, citizens are turning to the candidates hoping for concrete proposals to combat the rising cost of life.
The situation is worrying for many Comorians who struggle on a daily basis to meet their basic needs. In their respective electoral programs, the candidates promise to provide solutions to this problem, however, citizens expect more than just speeches.
A father, named Salim, expresses the need for clear answers to his concerns. He deplores the difficulties he encounters in making ends meet and wants to know how the candidates really intend to improve salaries, create jobs and increase the purchasing power of Comorians.
Employers, for their part, expect concrete and achievable solutions from the future president. Sitti Djaouharia Chihabiddine, the head of the country’s main employers’ movement, highlights two levers on which the future president should act. The first would be to reduce the state’s lifestyle in order to be able to reduce import taxes, which would have an impact on product prices. The second lever would be to invest massively in local production, even if the effects will not be felt immediately, this would make it possible in the medium and long term to reduce the cost of everyday consumer products.
Among the proposals put forward by the candidates, free emergency care and the revaluation of retirement pensions are among the measures which could help many Comorians to better cope with inflation.
It is time for candidates to move from speech to action. Citizens are waiting for concrete and achievable proposals to counter this devastating inflation and improve their living conditions. The upcoming elections will therefore be crucial to determine what vision will be implemented to face this major economic problem.