In the context of rising fuel prices and the absence of viable alternatives, my recent circumstances compelled me to embark on a journey from Casablanca, the heart of Morocco, to Oujda, a region bordering the east. This journey was made via the trains operated by the National Office of Railways. Despite the fact that my travel took place at night, depriving me of the opportunity to appreciate the stunning natural landscapes and their diversity stretching from the center to the eastern part of the country, I was nonetheless struck by the varying speeds of the train throughout the journey.
Fes, which can be considered the midpoint of the distance between Casablanca and Oujda, became the focal point of my observations. Upon conducting some simple calculations by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken, it became evident that the average speed of the train between Oujda and Fes hovers around 60 kilometers per hour. In stark contrast, the speed exceeds 90 kilometers per hour between Fes and Casablanca. This discrepancy raises questions: Is it a matter of the difference between electric engines used from Fes to Casablanca and diesel engines from Fes to Oujda? Or could it be attributed to the challenging terrain? Perhaps it reflects the historical neglect of the eastern regions in public policy since independence.
This journey vividly illustrated the arguments often made by politicians regarding Morocco's dual-speed development. It is not merely about a disparity in growth rates across different regions; it is a tangible reality that we experience firsthand when traveling by train through Rabat-Salé, passing through Fes-Meknes, and ultimately arriving in the eastern region.
Indeed, Morocco can only progress when all its regions advance. The development of these regions hinges on effective local and regional management by a new generation of politicians, untainted by the previous administration that has contributed to the current state of affairs. Additionally, clear laws must enhance the powers of elected officials at the expense of appointed ones, all within a constitutional framework that robustly links accountability with responsibility in its broadest sense.
As we approach the legislative elections to select the representatives of the Moroccan nation, it is imperative to create the conditions for a qualitative shift that will pave the way for a new elite of dedicated politicians closely connected to the dreams and aspirations of the Moroccan people, while breaking away from the electoral opportunists.
We desire representatives that embody popular sovereignty, committed to serving the interests of the Moroccan populace, rather than a Morocco that caters solely to a select group of opportunists and monopolizers.
As reported by achkayen.com.
