Has Morocco's Digital Minister Ghita Mezzour bought a 2.48 million Dhs car ?

Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, has reportedly launched procedures to buy a luxury car for 2.48 million Dhs and another for 1.27 million, Al Akhbar newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition, and a number of news websites subsequently reported the news.

A review of the tender, published on the public procurement portal under the number 4/24/MTNRA, shows that it is not for the purchase of two luxury cars, but 17 cars.

These include one luxury sedan for 645,000 Dhs, one quality sedan for 412,800 Dhs, five quality 2 sedans for 1,273,104 Dhs and 10 hybrid sedans for 2,479,908 Dhs.

The tender was scheduled to open on 16 May at 10:00am.

After the misinformation was circulated, Minister Delegate Ghita Mezzour broke her silence and posted a clarification on her Facebook page, but then deleted the post.

Her ministry then issued a statement clarifying that the tender was not for two cars and that it was part of an effort to renew the ageing fleet to reduce maintenance costs and improve efficiency.

The ministry said it «reserves the right to take the necessary legal action to address this type of allegation and false news that would mislead public opinion».