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Kosie will run for the presidency

Kosie will run for the presidency

KOSIE Pretorius’s Monitor Action Group has confirmed that the veteran politician and lone ranger in the National Assembly will stand for the presidency in the November elections.

Though Pretorius said earlier that he had no chance of winning, MAG last week nominated him as their sole candidate to run for the position which will be vacated by President Sam Nujoma on March 21. He will also head the party’s list of candidates for the National Assembly.Earlier Pretorius joked that the next presidential election would be a “two-cart race” between him and Swapo’s candidate Hifikepunye Pohamba because they were the same age.However, he said at the time, MAG stood no chance of beating out Pohamba.MAG also expressed concern about the diminishing party funding from the State.He said the State had only contributed N$200 000 for MAG’s coffers this year while the DTA and Congress of Democrats had received around N$1,5 million.Swapo received N$12 million.The money paid to each party is based on the number of votes received in the last national elections.Over the past four years, the parties received about N$50 million but there are no laws that require them to account for how they used the money.The financing was introduced at least 10 years ago, but the rules and regulations have yet to be discussed by all the political parties.Earlier, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mose Tjitendero, said parties relied on private auditors to scrutinise their accounts.They then report to the National Assembly “under general categories”.Until next year, State funding will remain unregulated once the money has been transferred to the political parties.He will also head the party’s list of candidates for the National Assembly.Earlier Pretorius joked that the next presidential election would be a “two-cart race” between him and Swapo’s candidate Hifikepunye Pohamba because they were the same age.However, he said at the time, MAG stood no chance of beating out Pohamba.MAG also expressed concern about the diminishing party funding from the State.He said the State had only contributed N$200 000 for MAG’s coffers this year while the DTA and Congress of Democrats had received around N$1,5 million.Swapo received N$12 million.The money paid to each party is based on the number of votes received in the last national elections.Over the past four years, the parties received about N$50 million but there are no laws that require them to account for how they used the money.The financing was introduced at least 10 years ago, but the rules and regulations have yet to be discussed by all the political parties.Earlier, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mose Tjitendero, said parties relied on private auditors to scrutinise their accounts.They then report to the National Assembly “under general categories”.Until next year, State funding will remain unregulated once the money has been transferred to the political parties.

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