HENCHIR CHAL: President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed on Wednesday evening made unexpected visits to Henchir Chal and Bir Ali Ben Khalifa in the governorate of Sfax, before proceeding to Kairouan. During these visits, President Saïed emphasized the importance of maintaining what belongs to the Tunisian people and reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption.

According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, President Saïed engaged with citizens, listening to their concerns and reaffirming his dedication to meeting their legitimate aspirations throughout the country. In Henchir Chal, he inspected a depot for defective equipment and criticized the negligence of officials responsible for its maintenance. He held a meeting with the estate’s management, highlighting how financial and administrative corruption had hampered the farm’s performance and potential for employment, leading to a decline in livestock.

President Saïed stated that the fight against corruption is more than just a slogan and assured that there are n
o plans to privatize the Henchir Chal estate, despite lobbying efforts. The estate, home to the world’s second-largest olive grove, spans 5,187.24 hectares and employs a considerable workforce. Despite its state ownership and management, the grove faces significant challenges.

In Kairouan, President Saïed reviewed the status of the Aghlabid basins, a UNESCO World Heritage site. He revealed that funds have been secured for the site’s rehabilitation, which will be overseen by military engineers. The President criticized the misuse of public funds designated for the site since 2017 and called for expedited study and reporting processes, stressing that Tunisia possesses the necessary expertise to complete the work without foreign assistance.