Opposition Escalates Tensions Over Allegations of Mismanagement
The opposition team in the Al-Manzel municipality, located in the province of Sefrou, has significantly intensified its rhetoric against the council president following his withdrawal from an extraordinary session held yesterday, which he protested by denouncing what he termed a "catastrophic administrative trajectory" characterizing local governance. The opposition has leveled numerous allegations related to the management of public facilities and finances, urging relevant authorities to intervene and launch an investigation into what they deem to be serious irregularities.
In a statement received by "Adyar", the opposition team clarified that their decision to withdraw from the session was a rejection of what they perceived as a policy of imposing decisions without genuine involvement from the opposition. They argued that the meeting room has transformed into a mere venue for approving pre-prepared decisions rather than serving as a platform for discussion aimed at the public good. The statement accused the council president of misusing municipal properties and resources, particularly the lifting truck, for premature electoral activities benefiting his close associates, which they argued violates principles of administrative neutrality and equal opportunity.
Concerns Raised Over Public Services and Financial Management
The opposition further highlighted issues related to public lighting, asserting that the installation of new lamps was carried out haphazardly and without prior technical studies. They claimed this has resulted in increased pressure on electrical transformers and frequent malfunctions, coupled with a significant rise in electricity bills compared to previous terms, which they categorized as wasteful spending of public funds and a drain on the municipality's budget. Additionally, the statement criticized what it described as a policy of "proliferating unauthorized kiosks," accusing the council president of permitting the establishment of stalls without legal licenses for politically affiliated individuals, which they believe encourages public space occupation and fosters favoritism, undermining equality among citizens.
The opposition also noted a sudden halt to the city rehabilitation program, expressing bewilderment over the lack of explanations regarding the cessation of work, which they felt negatively impacts infrastructure conditions and perpetuates the marginalization of neighborhoods and districts represented by opposition councilors. Financially, the statement accused the council leadership of programming and expending budgetary allocations without yielding tangible results on the ground, citing the beautification budget, which they claimed consumed financial resources without contributing to the enhancement of public spaces or benefiting the local population.
Moreover, the opposition team criticized what they perceived as the marginalization of official municipal employees, assigning certain responsibilities, including the management of the municipal garage, to temporary agents, which they viewed as indicative of nepotism and favoritism in human resource management and the distribution of responsibilities within the municipality.
The opposition concluded their statement with a firm stance, asserting they will not be mere bystanders to the mismanagement of Al-Manzel's resources. They held the council president legally and ethically responsible for the management practices and called on oversight authorities to intervene urgently to enforce accountability and investigate the various irregularities outlined in their statement.
In response to the allegations regarding the mismanagement of public funds and the municipality's financial drain due to rising electricity bills in recent years, President Mustafa Bouzyan opted to address these claims by publishing a document on his Facebook page detailing the annual electricity consumption trends in Al-Manzel over the past decade. According to the document, which was reviewed by "Adyar", there has been a noticeable reduction in electricity consumption, decreasing from over 140 million centimes in the years 2017, 2020, and 2021 to approximately 78 million centimes in 2025, "despite the addition of a thousand new LED lamps distributed throughout the municipality during the current electoral term," as expressed by Bouzyan.
As reported by adyare.ma.
