Morocco takes a tumble in world corruption rankings
2008-09-26
Transparency International's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index lists Morocco in 80th place, signifying a fall of eight places since last year. Moroccans remain optimistic about the fight against corruption, but say the problem's root causes still need to be addressed.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 26/09/08
 [File] As Morocco falls in Transparency International's 2008 ratings of corruption, Moroccans say the administration should bring some of the major cases to trial, in order to restore faith in the authorities. |
Morocco has taken a step backward in its fight against corruption, according to recent data from Transparency International. The group's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index shows Morocco in 80th place out of 180 countries, a drop of eight places over 2007. The scores are the result of six inquiries on the ground, led by independent international agencies.
Rachid Filali Meknassi, Secretary-General of Transparency Maroc, said in a press briefing on Tuesday (September 23rd) that corruption has become systemic. "Morocco's fall in the rankings is due to the failure to effectively apply the reforms announced by the government to fight this phenomenon," he said.
Transparency has expressed its disappointment with the decree to set up the central anti-corruption court, creating a body which is deprived both of institutional autonomy and of any power to investigate or take legal action.
The legal system and the administration are the sectors most affected. The association has called on authorities for "more effort to combat corruption in the country".
Transparency says the measures needed to fight corruption should include a legal component. Protections also need to be included for citizens who report facts concerning offences to the relevant authorities in good faith and on the grounds of reasonable suspicion, under the terms of the United Nations convention on corruption.
According to the Moroccan government, this ranking is not based on an objective analysis of corruption, but on a simple study of perceptions of corruption. The government has said there is a great desire to eradicate this phenomenon, citing the creation of the central anti-corruption court, along with legal measures already put in place such as the passing of laws relating to money-laundering, delegated management and public officials' declaration of assets.
Nevertheless, concrete results are needed for the set objectives to be achieved. A government action plan under discussion since 2006 is intended to improve Morocco’s rating in the index. Objectives include simplified administrative procedures, establishing ethical and moral values and standards, strengthening transparency in the management of public sector tenders, improved monitoring, control and audits, and education on related issues.
MP Lahcen Daoudi told Magharebia that corruption affects all areas, beginning with elections.
"Corruption is a catastrophe and the government is doing nothing to eradicate it. They must set up barriers against it in legislation," he said.
Meanwhile, fellow MP Fatima Mustaghfir said the fight against corruption is a matter for which the public, the administration and the authorities must all assume responsibility.
"It is important to realise that corruption is due to low wages and also a feeling of injustice. We have to work on those areas," she told Magharebia.
There are many who feel that the state must act on major incidences of corruption, rather than focusing on the smaller cases. IT worker Hamid Zahrani said that to set an example for Moroccans, the government has a duty to clean up the administration and bring the major cases before the courts, so that the public's confidence in the authorities can be restored.
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yasser Posted 2008-09-27
I hope that the new commission made official by Mohamed Vi has enough power to act independently, effectively and pragmatically when faced with the most critical and complex cases.
bakkane Posted 2008-10-01
1 October 2008: Good evening, I am a woman. I worked in Berkane. I was a very happy woman with a plain lifestyle. I dreamt of making a good, plain life for my children. Then, my work situation changed when I was on vacation and my boss stole my job and my work area. I trusted them. They had my files and they put another name on them in place of mine and sold them for cash. I was sick for a long time afterwards. I filed a case with the courts in 1987. I wrote them letters but got no response. Now, I am disabled because of the shock I suffered during the telephone call they gave me. Then, my days became blackened and I wanted to do something to quell the hatred I have in my heart. I thought better of it because I did not want to leave my children to the streets; they had nobody. Now, I would say that Morocco has changed. I went to the Prime Minister, the other administrative bureaus, to the journalists and even to His Majesty’s royal palace itself, and still no response. I would like to ask His Majesty, King Mohamed VI to go to his palace so that I can let him know about everything now. I am disabled and I will remain that way for the rest of my life because of my boss. My children are suffering with me. –Thank you infinitely, Rachoi P.S. to His Majesty, King Mohamed VI: May God protect the royal family. Your Majesty, I hope to come to the palace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
wali18 Posted 2008-10-06
Forgetting about divine law, men established governmental laws, which are supposed to protect against and punish corruption for all "chahb" citizens. The latter thought to elect representatives and parliamentary deputies who were funded in order to monitor the implementation of reforms voted upon in the drafting rooms and applied by the administration. The representatives theoretically play the role of an organ of control over the administration, therefore not having to reflect upon a plan of action since 2006. The means are there, but their sensitivity is not on par with the situation. According to the article by Sarah Touarhi for Magharebia, Transparency International makes accusations without offering an solutions, except to make an effort to be more… transparent!? The government judges this study to not be objective, a representative who let us know that this affects our elections bizarrely does nothing to fight the corruption and a parliamentary deputy says that the people are responsible and that their wages should be raised, but with what money!? If the representatives of the people and the ministers are not capable of offering some radical solutions to this human evil, then how can the saying go, “For great illnesses there are great remedies”? The new Morocco cannot allow itself to see such misfortune grow with it, because its stability and future will be affected. How do we intelligently and quickly rid ourselves of such a disability? That is the question. Stop with these endless findings on this situation. All we are hearing is wafty talk putting us to sleep, no doubt so that they can get better planted for a higher jump. And, who is benefiting from this evil? Let us start with the parliament itself, because there are no small salaries
wali18 Posted 2008-10-07
Well, who is benefiting from this evil? Let us start with that, and indeed it is the parliament, because there are nothing but small salaries using this mode of remuneration. May the representatives rush about a bit more than the ministers. May every citizen be educated and morally concerned. May an ethic be born in this country. May each of us, whether we be higher-ups in the hierarchy or simple shepherds, be concerned by the risks this global scourge has brought on us. We need to manage this problem the same way AIDS, breast cancer, job insecurity and illiteracy are dealt with. May the commissions involved in awarding contracts be accessible to the “average” citizen and to the diverse representative entities, be they salaried or not. May there be more independence in monitoring public affairs. May the audits be conducted by private organisms that are neutral and exterior to the national markets. May controls be established throughout the Kingdom in all areas of transaction without turning to lottery-based planning. May an extensive plan be made that does not avoid the problems. Let us take advantage of the global economic turmoil in order to free our country from this mortal sin.
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