Nothing seems to stop Lotfi Dahmen. Exuberant, overflowing with a positive and communicative energy, this photographic reporter, recognized as one of the best by his peers and who can boast of having built a fine professional career, with thousands of shots of personalities to his credit, athletes, ministers… decided to make a 180° turn by embarking on tourism. The trigger took place at the end of the 90s. While everything was going well for this professional who opened a photo agency in Carthage, he decided to embark on a large-scale tourist project revolving around the development of a large tourist, cultural and sports entertainment complex in the tourist area of Sidi Salem in Bizerte. Thus begins a journey strewn with pitfalls for the photographer reporter who has to face many detractors opposed to the success of his project and who do not hesitate to put a spoke in his wheels. Everyone gets involved: the bank, Sonede, Steg, the Regional Union of Industry, Trade and Crafts of Bizerte which has prohibited it, since 2015, from organizing exhibitions and fairs under tents and marquees, “a decree specially created for me”, underlines, with bitterness, Dahmen, while the complex has nevertheless been specially fitted out to host this type of event in order to be able, thanks to this commercial activity, generate cash inflows that would allow him to pay off the numerous debts contracted with his bank.
Injustice, suspicious demolition stop and death threats
But it takes much more to shake the entrepreneur who throws himself body and soul into the battle for justice. The latter, who followed the procedure in force and who obtained all the necessary authorizations for the development of the leisure complex near the Marina of Sidi Salem (governorate of Bizerte), has nothing to reproach himself for. However, it is the blow delivered by the municipality of Bizerte that will make it falter. The new mayor of Bizerte issues, in fact, in June 2022, a demolition order which targets the entire part of the complex dedicated to commercial activity, namely the marquees intended to accommodate exhibitions, parties and wedding ceremonies, the premises for commercial use located on the ground floor, as well as the foundations of the first floor which has not yet been completed. “The plans for the project have been revised since 2015 and obtained permission from the Tourist Board. Contrary to what the municipality of Bizerte asserts, no part of the complex is in violation of the law. I obtained all the authorizations required to build this center for which I hold the title deed, continues the entrepreneur. However, no demolition order has been issued for buildings that are in the same area and which, however, were built without authorization. There is therefore an eel under rock. “Believing that I am the victim of a serious injustice, I have filed a complaint with the administrative court and I hope that an expert will be appointed so that I can understand what are the inconveniences attributed to my project, when I have done everything in the standards. Malicious people do not want me to succeed. They are doing everything to push me to sell this complex at a loss, which is located on land with a very high land value. It suits them especially since I’m not from the region. But I won’t let it go.” The latter, who has received death threats, hopes that his voice will reach the highest levels of the State in order to be able to win his case and put an end to this injustice and this harassment which have lasted too long.
