Protests Erupt Over Allegations of Corruption in Marrakech
On Sunday, the city of Marrakech witnessed a significant protest organized by the local coordination group against corruption, which took place in front of the new bus station in Al-Azouziya. Demonstrators raised slogans denouncing what they termed as "corruption and squandering of public funds," while demanding a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this project, which has faced widespread criticism. The coordination group emphasized in its closing remarks that the project was executed without any involvement from transportation professionals, a blatant violation of constitutional provisions and laws. They argued that the exclusion of key stakeholders contributed to the creation of a station that fails to meet the necessary standards and the needs of users.
The group further highlighted that the inclusion of the project in the "Marrakech, the Renewed Capital" program in 2014, despite not meeting the required accreditation criteria, raises questions about the motivations behind this decision. They noted that the haste to launch the project appears to serve the interests of elected officials and real estate lobbies that benefited from their influence to achieve personal gains. The coordination also recorded that construction work commenced without obtaining the necessary legal permits and approvals of designs, and was marked by repeated and unjustified delays, leading to increased project costs and significant financial resource wastage, amid what they described as poor management and a lack of governance.
Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the allocation of part of the land designated for the project to a private company for commercial development. This was viewed as an indication of prioritizing private interests over public welfare, in a context shrouded by allegations of illicit exploitation of power and influence. Despite the completion of the works and their final acceptance in 2018, the station remains closed to this day, with costs amounting to approximately 1.2 billion dirhams. This situation has compelled the coordination group to call for a fair investigation and accountability for those involved, warning that continued impunity undermines trust in institutions and hampers the path to development.
As reported by maghrebtimes.ma.
