The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has started preparing for this weekend’s by-election in Oshakati East of Oshana Region. ECN Returning Officer for the constituency says 105 election officials and more than 200 party agents attended training Monday. Efraim Iiyambo says preparations are on track for holding of the by-election at the town this weekend. Iiyambo says the training of polling officials and that of party agents are crucial to the smooth running of the voting process and to safeguard the credibility of the by-election. He says training will ensure that the staff can carry out their mandate without prejudice and have the skills to facilitate the poll. A total of 18 000 voters have registered to take part in the by-election in the Oshakati East Constituency this Saturday. Iiyambo has called on all the voters to turn up in numbers and ensure that they vote for their preferred candidates. The by-election has been called to fill the vacancy after the death of Councillor Lotto Kuushomwa. Kuushomwa died in Windhoek three months ago, a day after collapsing during a session of the National Council in Windhoek.