Preparations are in full swing for the Okaku Constituency by-election on the 17th of next month.

Supplementary registration of voters has been completed, and the final voter register was published this month.

There are now 10,920 registered voters.

A voter education campaign as well as the nomination of party candidates have also concluded.

Swapo filed Phillipus Taukondjele as its candidate, PDM will be represented by Haufiku Nghinomenwa, Jakob Sakaria is the candidate for Independent Patriots for Change, and Nambambi Natangwe stands for the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters.

The verification of the sample ballot papers by authorized representatives of the political parties was already conducted on February 24.

The printing of final ballot papers is scheduled to take place on March 2.

All sensitive materials will be dispatched on March 13 and are to be placed in safekeeping at a police station within the constituency.

A total of 90 polling officials have been recruited and will be deployed at 15 fixed and three mobile polling stations.

The training of election agents and police officers will be conducted from March 9 to 10, while that of polling officials will be conducted between March 11 and 15.

The position of a councilor became vacant following the death of Swapo's Gerson Kapenda. 

In terms of the Regional Council Act, if a vacancy occurs, ECN is obligated to conduct a by-election within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurred.