Three candidates withdraw from Mandevu by-election, leaving UPND's Adrian Banda as the only one left in the race

Three of the four candidates approved for the Mandevu parliamentary by-election have withdrawn, leaving the UPND's Adrian Banda as the only person still in the race a week before polling on 5 November. The three wrote to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in letters dated 28 October. Daniel Chisenga of the Forum for Democracy and Development, who stood as the Tonse Alliance candidate, gave no reason. Independent candidate Daniel Daka asked the commission to remove him from the race. Ntazana Muntungwa of the Leadership Movement cited financial constraints. Mr Banda is now set to be the sole contender, although an unopposed result depends on the ECZ following its procedures and formally confirming the withdrawals. ## Background Withdrawals have become a pattern in this round of by-elections. Earlier this month the ECZ declared the UPND's Anderson Banda duly elected Member of Parliament for Lumezi North after the NRPUP pulled out of all the by-elections and Leadership Movement candidate Nebby Manda resigned. In Mbala, the commission said the UPND's Felix Mulwanda will be declared mayor on 5 November after PAP candidate Pythias Sichitalwe withdrew. The parties give different reasons. UPND Deputy Secretary General Gertrude Imenda has said opposition candidates withdrew because their parties failed to give them logistical support. Tonse Alliance Secretary General Muhabi Lungu has said Mr Chisenga faced constant threats from alleged UPND agents. Last week the Tonse Alliance said UPND-clad attackers disrupted Mr Chisenga's campaign in Mandevu, and Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba said officers had split Mandevu into three security zones, each under its own commander, and that police would act against political violence whatever the party. ## Why it matters If the ECZ confirms Mr Banda as the only candidate, he can be declared elected without a vote, as happened in Lumezi North. Mandevu residents would then have no ballot to cast on 5 November, and th