ECZ rules out cancelling the Mandevu by-election as Zambians vote in other seats today

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has rejected calls to cancel the Mandevu parliamentary by-election, saying the Constitution allows the only remaining candidate to be declared the winner. ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro gave the commission's position in response to a press query on Monday. Three candidates sent resignation letters to the commission: Ntazana Musukuma of the Leadership Movement, independent Daniel Daka and Daniel Chisenga of the FDD. That leaves Adrian Banda of the UPND unopposed. Tonse Alliance Secretary General Muhabi Lungu has asked for the by-election to be cancelled so the opposition can find new candidates, calling the withdrawals undemocratic. Mr Chisenga has said death threats against his family forced him out, while the UPND has denied pressuring any opposition candidate to quit. Economic Freedom Fighters leader Kasonde Mwenda has separately asked the High Court to stop the poll and overturn the ECZ's order for a fresh election. Voting takes place today from 06:00 to 18:00 in the other by-elections on the ECZ calendar. On Tuesday, ECZ Commissioner McDonald Chipenzi told stakeholders in Sioma, ahead of the Mbeta ward by-election, that claims by some parties and civil society groups that the commission manipulates results are unfounded where those groups field fewer polling agents than there are polling stations. He urged parties to deploy enough agents to watch the count. "Our role as a commission is to count votes, and not to manufacture votes," he said. Mr Chipenzi said preparations for the Mbeta poll are complete, the political climate is generally calm, and he asked the media to give fair and accurate coverage. ## Background The Mandevu seat in Lusaka has been vacant since Parliament was dissolved, after an inconclusive election on 13 August, and the commission ordered a fresh by-election for 5 November. The ECZ's September notice listed Mandevu alongside the Mbala mayoral election, the Lumezi parliamentary by-election and a