فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fez News – Regional Development and Events
Taounate – A video and images circulated by activists on Facebook, allegedly showing a bulldozer belonging to the Inter-Communal Cooperation Group (Groupe des Collectivités Territoriales), paving a road towards a property purportedly owned by Moustapha El Meyssouri, the President of the Taounate Agricultural Chamber and an elected member of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party, have sparked a wide controversy in the province. The video suggests that this work is intended to facilitate an investment project—a gas station—which has led to condemnation from dozens of activists and local pages who view the matter as a misuse of public property for personal and partisan gain.
Video Details and Allegations
The video, which shows a bulldozer working to level land near a building, spread rapidly on the Facebook pages of Taounati activists. It is claimed that the bulldozer is public property, belonging to the group of 49 local communes (territorial collectives) in the province, and is being used to facilitate a private project for El Meyssouri without clear legal procedures. Activists described this act as “political exploitation of public assets,” pointing out that the province suffers from the isolation of hundreds of villages (douars and m’dachers) that have been waiting for years to benefit from these joint-owned heavy machineries for road work.
One activist wrote: “How is a public bulldozer allowed to be used for a private project while our villages live in complete isolation? This is clear fraud and abuse of office.” The hashtags #Taounate_Fraud and #Public_Private_Exploitation quickly trended, reflecting the sensitivity of the issue in a province plagued by infrastructure deficiencies.
Context of the Accusations and El Meyssouri’s Role
Moustapha El Meyssouri, who holds the position of President of the Taounate Agricultural Chamber in addition to being an elected official for the RNI party, is considered an influential figure in the province. The controversy comes at a time when Taounate is witnessing campaigns to combat administrative corruption, especially regarding the exploitation of public resources. No official comment has been issued yet by El Meyssouri or the Provincial Council, but activists are demanding immediate public clarification, considering that the issue undermines public trust and fairness in resource allocation.
In a related context, local sources confirmed that the 49 territorial collectives in the province face significant challenges in ending isolation, with hundreds of douars awaiting their turn for simple road works, while heavy machinery is allegedly being used for private projects. This controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in the management of public property, especially in a province that relies on agriculture as a key economic driver.
Fez News is following the developments, and we call upon the concerned authorities to conduct a swift investigation and provide an official clarification to calm public opinion.
