Image via WikipediaTransparency Maroc kicked off the New Year by opening the National Corruption Monitoring and Transparency Development Centre in Casablanca. Created in November 2007 with the financial support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the centre has just begun work on tackling corruption, assisting victims of the problem and building integrity in both the government and the private sector.The new facility will inform public policy on corruption prevention and gather data on corruption, governance and transparency. It will also advise corruption victims and whistle-blowers through a support and legal advice network. The centre has a hotline and a contact e-mail address for people wishing to make reports.
Transparency Maroc Secretary-General Azeddine Akesbi acknowledged that it can be difficult to prove incidences of corruption. To prevent slander, complainants will "be asked to provide hard evidence including financial accounts and video footage, if possible," he explained.
Akesbi said Transparency Maroc hopes to involve the private sector, NGOs and specialist bodies in its work. "Plans have been announced to create a National Corruption Prevention Authority which could be given some of the information we generate and act on complaints which we receive here at the monitoring centre. We're therefore calling for co-operation with partner agencies, whether state-run or otherwise," he said.
By collecting information, the centre will be able to lead thinking on a number of specific issues, including Morocco's legislative elections in September. Transparency International, the governing NGO for the Casablanca centre, already works worldwide on bringing corrupt politicians to justice, monitoring elections and investigating vote-buying and parliamentary ethics.
Transparency Maroc says that the country must make a united effort to stamp out the corruption that is entrenched in Moroccan society. Political will is necessary to end impunity, Akesbi emphasised. "We need to see this desire translated into action on the ground. We shouldn’t be focusing primarily on specific, isolated cases – we need to clean up the system as a whole," he told Magharebia.
He is calling on the government to make its anti-corruption action plan a reality. "We already have the framework – the United Nations Convention, which has been ratified. Now it’s time to take action. The government has a huge weight of responsibility on its shoulders since they’re the ones who hold executive power. We also need to get political parties involved during election campaigns," he added.
Exposing the damaging effects of corruption is just as vital as enforcing penalties, noted Professor Mohamed Mrani. "It’s up to the media, in partnership with civil society and the state to raise awareness," he said.
Mrani added, "This phenomenon is well-entrenched in Morocco. Over the course of time, it has become a culture all of its own."
However, there is one recent, objective indicator of some progress. Morocco improved its ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, climbing from 79th to 72nd place in 2007 among the 179 countries listed by the NGO
hassan Posted 2008-01-10
Corruption is an instrument for the reallocation of wealth in countries where taxation is weak and governmental resources are minimal. Corruption will exist in Morocco so long as there is poverty. That is what we then need to fight: poverty not corruption.
Elhaj AMAL Posted 2008-01-11
Best wishes for 2008. You have my sincere congratulations for the work you are organising to combat this scourge. In my opinion, the problem is more complex than this; we need to find a solution at the origin. First of all, we should improve the work conditions of the functionaries and secure their posts. I do not call this corruption but begging when it comes to low-level and mid-level functionaries; they are in need. Corruption is found in the higher echelons, where the decision-makers and their kind are.
Delesalle Philippe Philippus Posted 2008-01-11
Hello, Your article states that it is attempting to approach the problem at the level of the big cases, elections, etc. Don’t you think that a general approach should include the low-levels and petty corruption in order to improve everyone’s conscience? The monitoring body will only take cases into account that provide proof such as videos. Do you really think that that will allow for enough cases to be brought under scrutiny and even make things better? In corruption, everything is done verbally. It should be enough to count on informers alone, so long as they provide a concrete case. Who is it really that is at risk in important cases implicating people in power, as they, in return, will vindicate themselves in the face of the informers? Clearly, won’t the system denounce the latter for the crime? I think that sensitising the terrain by changing a few simple rules of daily life would assure everyone the best version of security against corruption. Should we not first implement laws making it mandatory that all traders post their prices? Posters or printouts concerning certain administrative proceedings would also be a good way to avoid getting stuck with your hands in your pockets as often when faced with functionaries. Are these controls even in place now? Repression is nothing but a last resort, and never changes the root of the problem? As of now, is everyone really ready to play this game and finance this project with all its inherent taxes and tariffs? Other forums such as religious role models should look into the answer. Philippe (Philippus) de la Salle, Spiritual philospher
solutionneur Posted 2008-01-11
Hello. Create forums to gather ideas (it exists) that can be used to eradicate 90% of corruption so long as they are put into effect. I have a plan to erase 80 to 90 per cent of corruption in five years. Who has something better?
Anonymous Posted 2008-01-11
How do you go about proving the misdeeds of certain judges (most notably those in Marrakech)? They appear to be above all laws. Even the highest laws no longer affect them. What matters is only how much they can make of a deal; who has the right appears to be of little importance.
hicham Posted 2008-01-14
I think that the King’s will as well as that of certain ministers and officials lies here. But, it also needs to be said that the will of society is needed here; the average citizen would rather pay 10 dirhams to a police officer instead of giving over the amount that is due in light of his infraction. In any case, it should be said that Morocco is built like a glass house, no longer is anything hidden. All we need to do now is protect it and, God willing, things in Morocco will change just like so many other things did before
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