MOROCCAN BUY TO LET PROPERTY INVESTMENT GUIDE
MOROCCAN BUY TO LET PROPERTY INVESTMENT GUIDE
When buying a secondary residence in Morocco for rental investment, the nature of the property acquisition is different from that of a lifestyle investment choice - the focus should remain strictly on anticipated rental return (immediate revenue) and return on invested capital (upon sale). Depending on the nature and location of your Moroccan property for rental and what your usage requirements are, there are a number of possible rental opportunities, as in the table below:
A) Long term letting (6 months +): 5% - 10% per annum (gross). 1 month’s rent (agency commission) or 20% for management services.
B) Short term letting (1-5 months) 5% - 15% per annum (gross). 20% agency commission for management services.
C) Managed rental/holiday letting: (3 nights +): 10% - 20% per annum (gross). 20% agency commission for management services.
DETAILS EXPLAINED:
A) Long term letting in Morocco.
This is the most typical rental option. The rental agency will advertise your property and search their network / database to find a tenant. Once a tenant has been found, the agency will prepare the tenancy agreement (contrat de bail), which must be signed and legalised. The agency should conduct an inspection before the tenants move in and once s/he moves out, as well as creating an inventory of furniture etc. The tenant pays the owner directly at predetermined intervals. Note: It is standard practice to mandate multiple estate agents to rent your property on your behalf in Morocco. The mandate between property owner and estate agent is deemed non-exclusive.
B) Short term letting in Morocco.
A short term let is identical in nature to long-term let but may be preferable if, as the owner, you have fixed periods during the year when you wish to occupy your Moroccan property, e.g. during the winter months.
C) Managed rental / holiday letting in Morocco (La gestion locative).
This service is offered by a small number of agencies as well as some professional individuals in Marrakech. Management services come at a cost – generally 20%, yet managed rental does provide many organisational benefits – the agency comprehensively manages the rental and maintenance of your property for you and provides valuable customer service for your rental clients. Combine this to the potential to generate up to 25% gross return on investment whilst retaining the liberty to make use of your property personally if and when you wish, and short term letting is certainly worth considering.
In principal, a managed rental service is based on a contract where the property owner mandates the rental management agency to rent and administrate the property. This involves the agency executing the owner’s wishes (within reason), managing the personal obligations of the owner with regard to the property as well as those towards fellow residents/neighbours and finally; - providing civil and legal representation on the owner’s behalf.
The service typically involves: * Collecting rental monies from the clients who rent the property; these can be deposited directly to the owner’s Moroccan bank account (less the fees & expenses) * Rendez-vous with the client in Marrakech to introduce him/her to the apartment * Payment of utility bills * Undertaking any necessary repairs (building, electrical, plumbing etc.) * Insurance – Taking out a contents and damages policy and reporting any damage or loss * General administration of bills and paperwork
Other than the great investment return, the main advantage of opting for this form of rental is the freedom it allows you as the owner to make use of your property as much or as little as you like. The agency will not enforce a minimum rental quota per year. This rental method can prove quite lucrative for properties which are in demand with holiday and weekend visitors, i.e. luxury apartments in central Marrakech. See the rental indicators section below for more details.
Note: Beware of “Rental Guarantees”. A managed rental service is not to be confused with guaranteed rental return scheme. Although very rare, some agencies may offer you a guaranteed rental return scheme - alluring you with a guaranteed return of X% per annum from the rental of your property, at a cost of next to nothing to you. Such schemes are to be avoided since they are conducive to filling the property with clients 365 days a year, whether said clients are desirable or undesirable.
RENTAL APPRAISAL:
In order to choose the rental strategy most suited to you, it is useful to estimate the potential rental return your property will generate. The following indicators relate only to apartments since villas vary greatly in nature and importance, thus, their rental value cannot be accurately estimated through the use of these indicators).
MARRAKECH LONG TERM RENTAL:
Source: Challenge - L'argus de l'immobilier Jan - Mar 2010 Edition (Challenge is a leading news review published weekly in Morocco. L'argus de l'immobilier quarterly special edition is considered the No. 1 price barometer for real estate throughout the Kingdom of Morocco).
KEY: * Location / apartment description / size * Rental values (Dhs per month) * Variation in value since last quarter
Gueliz, Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 3,500 dhs (320 EUR) Average: 4,850 dhs (430 EUR) Maximum: 6,500 dhs (580 EUR) Variation: +1%
Gueliz, Lounge + 2-4 bedroom, 70m2 - 150m2 Minimum: 5,500 dhs (490 EUR) Average: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Maximum: 10,000 dhs (890 EUR) Variation: Equal
**
Hivernage, Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 5,500 dhs (490 EUR) Average: 5,850 dhs (520 EUR) Maximum: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Variation: +1%
Hivernage, Lounge + 2 bedrooms, 70m2 - 120m2 Minimum: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Average: 9,350 dhs (830 EUR) Maximum: 13,000 dhs (1,160 EUR) Variation: +0.5%
Hivernage, Lounge + 3-4 bedrooms, 130m2 - 150m2 Minimum: 10,000 dhs (890 EUR) Average: 11,700 dhs (1,050 EUR) Maximum: 16,000 dhs (1,430 EUR) Variation: Equal
MARRAKECH SHORT TERM RENTAL:
Rented by night, apartments in Gueliz can typically be rented at the following rates (prices vary according to season, location and quality of apartment; consult a professional for further advice):
KEY: * Location / apartment description / size * Rental values (Dhs per night)
Gueliz, Studio or Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 400 dhs (35 EUR) Average: 500 dhs (45 EUR) Maximum: 800 dhs (70 EUR)
Gueliz, Lounge + 2 bedrooms, 70m2 - 120m2 Minimum: 600 dhs (53 EUR) Average: 1,000 dhs (90 EUR) Maximum: 1,600 dhs (140 EUR)
TAX ON RENTAL INCOME
International investors looking to operate a buy-to-let strategy with their investment property in Morocco will be required to pay tax on this generated income. The first three years can be exempt of tax, but afterwards investors must pay tax on 60% of their generated income at levels between 22% and 44%.
Municipal Tax For Rental Properties: if investors do not live in the property at all, a tax of 13.50% on the rental value is levied.
General Municipal Tax: in Morocco, property owners are required to pay an annual property tax. The first five years are exempt. After this, tax is due based on the annual rental value of the property. The table below gives an approximate guide to the taxes due:
* Less than 3,000 dhs - 0% * Between 3,001 and 6,000 dhs - 10% (25 - 50 EUR PA) * Between 6,001 and 12,000 dhs - 16% (75 - 160 EUR PA) * Between 12,001 and 24,000 dhs - 20% (200 - 420 EUR PA) * Between 24,001 and 36,000 dhs - 24% (500 - 750 EUR PA) * Between 36,001 and 60,000 dhs - 28% (900 – 1,500 EUR PA) * More than 60,000 dhs - 30% (1,600 EUR PA)
Capital Gains Tax: if the property is sold within five years, capital gains tax is charged at 20% of profit with a minimum of 3% of the sale price. A property sold between six and ten years of ownership will pay 10% capital gains tax and 0% thereafter. Capital gains tax is based on the sale price less the purchase price.
Inheritance Tax: there is 0% inheritance tax for family members, but it is essential to make a legal Moroccan will and seek professional tax advice beforehand.
UK-Morocco Tax Treaty: there is a double tax treaty in place between Morocco and the UK and this protects the investor from being liable for capital gains tax in both countries.
Corporate Tax: if you are considering investing in multiple property units in Morocco, it may be an idea to consider creating a Moroccan private limited company. Your Moroccan notary will be able to advise on the most efficient way to do this.
TO SUMMARISE:
A large number of real estate agencies in Marrakech offer the above mentioned rental services. Whether you are buying a property for pure rental investment or if you wish to make some use of the property as well as renting, a professional rental appraisal and agent is a very good idea.
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When buying a secondary residence in Morocco for rental investment, the nature of the property acquisition is different from that of a lifestyle investment choice - the focus should remain strictly on anticipated rental return (immediate revenue) and return on invested capital (upon sale). Depending on the nature and location of your Moroccan property for rental and what your usage requirements are, there are a number of possible rental opportunities, as in the table below:
A) Long term letting (6 months +): 5% - 10% per annum (gross). 1 month’s rent (agency commission) or 20% for management services.
B) Short term letting (1-5 months) 5% - 15% per annum (gross). 20% agency commission for management services.
C) Managed rental/holiday letting: (3 nights +): 10% - 20% per annum (gross). 20% agency commission for management services.
DETAILS EXPLAINED:
A) Long term letting in Morocco.
This is the most typical rental option. The rental agency will advertise your property and search their network / database to find a tenant. Once a tenant has been found, the agency will prepare the tenancy agreement (contrat de bail), which must be signed and legalised. The agency should conduct an inspection before the tenants move in and once s/he moves out, as well as creating an inventory of furniture etc. The tenant pays the owner directly at predetermined intervals. Note: It is standard practice to mandate multiple estate agents to rent your property on your behalf in Morocco. The mandate between property owner and estate agent is deemed non-exclusive.
B) Short term letting in Morocco.
A short term let is identical in nature to long-term let but may be preferable if, as the owner, you have fixed periods during the year when you wish to occupy your Moroccan property, e.g. during the winter months.
C) Managed rental / holiday letting in Morocco (La gestion locative).
This service is offered by a small number of agencies as well as some professional individuals in Marrakech. Management services come at a cost – generally 20%, yet managed rental does provide many organisational benefits – the agency comprehensively manages the rental and maintenance of your property for you and provides valuable customer service for your rental clients. Combine this to the potential to generate up to 25% gross return on investment whilst retaining the liberty to make use of your property personally if and when you wish, and short term letting is certainly worth considering.
In principal, a managed rental service is based on a contract where the property owner mandates the rental management agency to rent and administrate the property. This involves the agency executing the owner’s wishes (within reason), managing the personal obligations of the owner with regard to the property as well as those towards fellow residents/neighbours and finally; - providing civil and legal representation on the owner’s behalf.
The service typically involves: * Collecting rental monies from the clients who rent the property; these can be deposited directly to the owner’s Moroccan bank account (less the fees & expenses) * Rendez-vous with the client in Marrakech to introduce him/her to the apartment * Payment of utility bills * Undertaking any necessary repairs (building, electrical, plumbing etc.) * Insurance – Taking out a contents and damages policy and reporting any damage or loss * General administration of bills and paperwork
Other than the great investment return, the main advantage of opting for this form of rental is the freedom it allows you as the owner to make use of your property as much or as little as you like. The agency will not enforce a minimum rental quota per year. This rental method can prove quite lucrative for properties which are in demand with holiday and weekend visitors, i.e. luxury apartments in central Marrakech. See the rental indicators section below for more details.
Note: Beware of “Rental Guarantees”. A managed rental service is not to be confused with guaranteed rental return scheme. Although very rare, some agencies may offer you a guaranteed rental return scheme - alluring you with a guaranteed return of X% per annum from the rental of your property, at a cost of next to nothing to you. Such schemes are to be avoided since they are conducive to filling the property with clients 365 days a year, whether said clients are desirable or undesirable.
RENTAL APPRAISAL:
In order to choose the rental strategy most suited to you, it is useful to estimate the potential rental return your property will generate. The following indicators relate only to apartments since villas vary greatly in nature and importance, thus, their rental value cannot be accurately estimated through the use of these indicators).
MARRAKECH LONG TERM RENTAL:
Source: Challenge - L'argus de l'immobilier Jan - Mar 2010 Edition (Challenge is a leading news review published weekly in Morocco. L'argus de l'immobilier quarterly special edition is considered the No. 1 price barometer for real estate throughout the Kingdom of Morocco).
KEY: * Location / apartment description / size * Rental values (Dhs per month) * Variation in value since last quarter
Gueliz, Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 3,500 dhs (320 EUR) Average: 4,850 dhs (430 EUR) Maximum: 6,500 dhs (580 EUR) Variation: +1%
Gueliz, Lounge + 2-4 bedroom, 70m2 - 150m2 Minimum: 5,500 dhs (490 EUR) Average: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Maximum: 10,000 dhs (890 EUR) Variation: Equal
**
Hivernage, Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 5,500 dhs (490 EUR) Average: 5,850 dhs (520 EUR) Maximum: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Variation: +1%
Hivernage, Lounge + 2 bedrooms, 70m2 - 120m2 Minimum: 7,000 dhs (625 EUR) Average: 9,350 dhs (830 EUR) Maximum: 13,000 dhs (1,160 EUR) Variation: +0.5%
Hivernage, Lounge + 3-4 bedrooms, 130m2 - 150m2 Minimum: 10,000 dhs (890 EUR) Average: 11,700 dhs (1,050 EUR) Maximum: 16,000 dhs (1,430 EUR) Variation: Equal
MARRAKECH SHORT TERM RENTAL:
Rented by night, apartments in Gueliz can typically be rented at the following rates (prices vary according to season, location and quality of apartment; consult a professional for further advice):
KEY: * Location / apartment description / size * Rental values (Dhs per night)
Gueliz, Studio or Lounge + 1 bedroom, 40m2 - 80m2 Minimum: 400 dhs (35 EUR) Average: 500 dhs (45 EUR) Maximum: 800 dhs (70 EUR)
Gueliz, Lounge + 2 bedrooms, 70m2 - 120m2 Minimum: 600 dhs (53 EUR) Average: 1,000 dhs (90 EUR) Maximum: 1,600 dhs (140 EUR)
TAX ON RENTAL INCOME
International investors looking to operate a buy-to-let strategy with their investment property in Morocco will be required to pay tax on this generated income. The first three years can be exempt of tax, but afterwards investors must pay tax on 60% of their generated income at levels between 22% and 44%.
Municipal Tax For Rental Properties: if investors do not live in the property at all, a tax of 13.50% on the rental value is levied.
General Municipal Tax: in Morocco, property owners are required to pay an annual property tax. The first five years are exempt. After this, tax is due based on the annual rental value of the property. The table below gives an approximate guide to the taxes due:
* Less than 3,000 dhs - 0% * Between 3,001 and 6,000 dhs - 10% (25 - 50 EUR PA) * Between 6,001 and 12,000 dhs - 16% (75 - 160 EUR PA) * Between 12,001 and 24,000 dhs - 20% (200 - 420 EUR PA) * Between 24,001 and 36,000 dhs - 24% (500 - 750 EUR PA) * Between 36,001 and 60,000 dhs - 28% (900 – 1,500 EUR PA) * More than 60,000 dhs - 30% (1,600 EUR PA)
Capital Gains Tax: if the property is sold within five years, capital gains tax is charged at 20% of profit with a minimum of 3% of the sale price. A property sold between six and ten years of ownership will pay 10% capital gains tax and 0% thereafter. Capital gains tax is based on the sale price less the purchase price.
Inheritance Tax: there is 0% inheritance tax for family members, but it is essential to make a legal Moroccan will and seek professional tax advice beforehand.
UK-Morocco Tax Treaty: there is a double tax treaty in place between Morocco and the UK and this protects the investor from being liable for capital gains tax in both countries.
Corporate Tax: if you are considering investing in multiple property units in Morocco, it may be an idea to consider creating a Moroccan private limited company. Your Moroccan notary will be able to advise on the most efficient way to do this.
TO SUMMARISE:
A large number of real estate agencies in Marrakech offer the above mentioned rental services. Whether you are buying a property for pure rental investment or if you wish to make some use of the property as well as renting, a professional rental appraisal and agent is a very good idea.
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NEW CONSTITUTION WILL BRING GREATER OPENNESS
NEW CONSTITUTION WILL BRING GREATER OPENNESS
The New Moroccan constitution, approved by a landslide majority following a referendum on July 1, ''will bring greater openness and democracy to Morocco,'' US Congresswoman Shelley Berkley said recently. ''I am encouraged by the recent referendum held in Morocco that approved the constitutional changes proposed by King Mohamed VI,” Berkely, the Democratic Representative who represents the Nevada First Congressional District, said in a statement.
These reforms enable Morocco to be welcomed “into the community of world democracies”, added Berkely.
''The U.S. should help the Moroccan government in every way we can to ensure'' the transition toward democratic governance “happens in a safe and constructive environment that strengthens this important alliance and brings greater stability to the region,” the US Congresswoman went on to say.
The New Moroccan constitution, approved by a landslide majority following a referendum on July 1, ''will bring greater openness and democracy to Morocco,'' US Congresswoman Shelley Berkley said recently. ''I am encouraged by the recent referendum held in Morocco that approved the constitutional changes proposed by King Mohamed VI,” Berkely, the Democratic Representative who represents the Nevada First Congressional District, said in a statement.
These reforms enable Morocco to be welcomed “into the community of world democracies”, added Berkely.
''The U.S. should help the Moroccan government in every way we can to ensure'' the transition toward democratic governance “happens in a safe and constructive environment that strengthens this important alliance and brings greater stability to the region,” the US Congresswoman went on to say.
MOROCCO HOSTS BRITISH FILM WEEK FROM NOV 13-20
MOROCCO HOSTS BRITISH FILM WEEK FROM NOV 13-20
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
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Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
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MOROCCO ENTERS A NEW ERA
MOROCCO ENTERS A NEW ERA
The constitutional reforms announced by the King of Morocco last month amid the popular uprisings in northern Africa and the Middle East would bring Morocco into a new era where the best possible structures, in terms of modernity, balance of power, accountability and human development, are to be put in place. Major protests have so far toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, and have now spread to other Arab countries, including Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Moroccan Ambassador, Ahmed Amaziane, said the reforms pledged by King Mohamed VI, which stressed independence of the judiciary, a regionalisation process, and expanding the power of the prime minister, would be enshrined in the amended constitution. ''Although these elements are already being practised, they were not really in black and white in the (present) constitution. Now we have the opportunity to incorporate all these into the proposed constitutional reforms,'' he told Bernama during a recent interview here. He added that a constitutional referendum would be held, most likely in June or September, to let the Moroccan people decide on whether to accept the reforms. Amaziane explained that the king has instructed a commission to consult all groups within Moroccan society, including political parties, the business community, civil society, trade unions and youths, to debate the proposed amendments to the constitution before it is drafted and sent to the king.
''Once they have given the draft to the king, he would see whether it comprises all the elements stated in his speech on March 9 and a referendum would then be held for the Moroccan people to approve the constitutional reforms,'' the ambassador said. ''With that, we solve the problem of legitimacy on who is speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco,'' he said, adding that a referendum was the most democratic way known to men to solve the legitimacy problem. The envoy added that during the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco, various sections claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the Moroccan people. ''You have the young people from Facebook, the Islamists, the liberals speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco. With the referendum, the people can decide. If they don't like it, they can reject it,'' Amaziane said. Amaziane said that in Morocco the spectrum of views was wide - from the Islamists to the liberals - and also from people who want ''to go slowly about it,'' until a viable system is put in place, because if the country has a system that works, ''you cannot just scrap it and then put something which is new and you are not sure whether it is going to work. ''That is why the referendum is a very key issue in solving who is who and who is speaking on behalf of whom,'' he added.
Also, the ambassador dismissed the contention that the king proposed the constitutional reforms because of the popular uprisings in the North African and Middle Eastern countries. He pointed out that the process for all the elements in the proposed constitutional reforms started in 1999 when the king ascended the throne. ''Many people did not know that. That's why they think this is the response. Maybe the exact timing of the March 9 speech is due to the demonstration, but not the whole process as such,'' he added. ''The elements we are talking about were either started or had been announced during the last 10 years,'' he said, adding that some proposals, such as nominating the prime minister from the party which commanded the majority in parliament, had been practised but not put in ''black and white'' in the constitution. He pointed out that international observers have said that the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco was not violent or tense because the protesters knew that initiatives had been taken to ensure that the country moved towards a more democratic process, as well as towards creating opportunities and equality for all citizens.
Amaziane noted that when King Mohamed came to power in 1999, the first thing he did was set up the Justice and Reconciliation body to look into all human rights abuses committed during his father's reign and, subsequently, those citizens who had been harmed were given compensation and offered apologies. The king was also responsible for the national human development initiatives and personally oversaw all programmes and projects to fight poverty and widen access to basic social services and education for poor people. Another important element is the regionalisation process, Amaziane said, adding that the king had already instructed a committee to look at how to manage a diverse country like Morocco, explaining that the regionalisation process would give the regions as much autonomy as possible in handling their local affairs. Amaziane added that prior to this, the regions were managed by the central government, which had more power, but the regionalisation process will see the regions gaining more power and freedom to run their own affairs, such as allowing their citizens to control the budget. Furthermore, each region would have its own investment centre, instead of having one office at the national level. This would save time as investors need only to go to the centre they want to invest in.
Asked how the reforms would affect Morocco's relationship with other countries, Amaziane said press reports indicated that foreign countries have praised the king for spearheading the reforms and responding to the people's requests. ''They said that the king's response was appropriate and very good, timing-wise and quality-wise also,'' he said. The king, in his March speech, described the constitutional reforms as a milestone in the consolidation of the country's distinctive model, which is based on democracy and the pursuit of development.
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The constitutional reforms announced by the King of Morocco last month amid the popular uprisings in northern Africa and the Middle East would bring Morocco into a new era where the best possible structures, in terms of modernity, balance of power, accountability and human development, are to be put in place. Major protests have so far toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, and have now spread to other Arab countries, including Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Moroccan Ambassador, Ahmed Amaziane, said the reforms pledged by King Mohamed VI, which stressed independence of the judiciary, a regionalisation process, and expanding the power of the prime minister, would be enshrined in the amended constitution. ''Although these elements are already being practised, they were not really in black and white in the (present) constitution. Now we have the opportunity to incorporate all these into the proposed constitutional reforms,'' he told Bernama during a recent interview here. He added that a constitutional referendum would be held, most likely in June or September, to let the Moroccan people decide on whether to accept the reforms. Amaziane explained that the king has instructed a commission to consult all groups within Moroccan society, including political parties, the business community, civil society, trade unions and youths, to debate the proposed amendments to the constitution before it is drafted and sent to the king.
''Once they have given the draft to the king, he would see whether it comprises all the elements stated in his speech on March 9 and a referendum would then be held for the Moroccan people to approve the constitutional reforms,'' the ambassador said. ''With that, we solve the problem of legitimacy on who is speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco,'' he said, adding that a referendum was the most democratic way known to men to solve the legitimacy problem. The envoy added that during the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco, various sections claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the Moroccan people. ''You have the young people from Facebook, the Islamists, the liberals speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco. With the referendum, the people can decide. If they don't like it, they can reject it,'' Amaziane said. Amaziane said that in Morocco the spectrum of views was wide - from the Islamists to the liberals - and also from people who want ''to go slowly about it,'' until a viable system is put in place, because if the country has a system that works, ''you cannot just scrap it and then put something which is new and you are not sure whether it is going to work. ''That is why the referendum is a very key issue in solving who is who and who is speaking on behalf of whom,'' he added.
Also, the ambassador dismissed the contention that the king proposed the constitutional reforms because of the popular uprisings in the North African and Middle Eastern countries. He pointed out that the process for all the elements in the proposed constitutional reforms started in 1999 when the king ascended the throne. ''Many people did not know that. That's why they think this is the response. Maybe the exact timing of the March 9 speech is due to the demonstration, but not the whole process as such,'' he added. ''The elements we are talking about were either started or had been announced during the last 10 years,'' he said, adding that some proposals, such as nominating the prime minister from the party which commanded the majority in parliament, had been practised but not put in ''black and white'' in the constitution. He pointed out that international observers have said that the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco was not violent or tense because the protesters knew that initiatives had been taken to ensure that the country moved towards a more democratic process, as well as towards creating opportunities and equality for all citizens.
Amaziane noted that when King Mohamed came to power in 1999, the first thing he did was set up the Justice and Reconciliation body to look into all human rights abuses committed during his father's reign and, subsequently, those citizens who had been harmed were given compensation and offered apologies. The king was also responsible for the national human development initiatives and personally oversaw all programmes and projects to fight poverty and widen access to basic social services and education for poor people. Another important element is the regionalisation process, Amaziane said, adding that the king had already instructed a committee to look at how to manage a diverse country like Morocco, explaining that the regionalisation process would give the regions as much autonomy as possible in handling their local affairs. Amaziane added that prior to this, the regions were managed by the central government, which had more power, but the regionalisation process will see the regions gaining more power and freedom to run their own affairs, such as allowing their citizens to control the budget. Furthermore, each region would have its own investment centre, instead of having one office at the national level. This would save time as investors need only to go to the centre they want to invest in.
Asked how the reforms would affect Morocco's relationship with other countries, Amaziane said press reports indicated that foreign countries have praised the king for spearheading the reforms and responding to the people's requests. ''They said that the king's response was appropriate and very good, timing-wise and quality-wise also,'' he said. The king, in his March speech, described the constitutional reforms as a milestone in the consolidation of the country's distinctive model, which is based on democracy and the pursuit of development.
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MOROCCO HOSTS BRITISH FILM WEEK FROM NOV 13-20
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
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Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
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