Update: UPND's Adrian Banda wins Mandevu seat unopposed as Hichilema goes to the constituency to face residents

**Update:** Earlier coverage reported that the ECZ refused to cancel the poll and that Mr Banda would be declared the winner. New since then: he has been reported declared on polling day, and President Hichilema was due in Mandevu the same day to take residents' questions. Adrian Banda of the UPND has been reported declared the winner of the Mandevu parliamentary by-election on Thursday 5 November, the day voters were due at the polls, because he was the only candidate left. Earlier that morning the Electoral Commission of Zambia had said he would be declared duly elected without a poll, but had yet to formally announce it. No ballot was cast in the constituency. On the same day, President Hakainde Hichilema was expected at Mutambe Community grounds in Mandevu for a town hall meeting. "Bring your neighbours, bring your questions and let us talk about what matters to you," he told residents ahead of the visit. Issues raised ahead of the meeting include the November fuel price rise and inflation, which reached 6.3 percent in October. Marketeers want answers on empowerment loans, young people are asking about jobs, and community activists have questions on local services. What the President said had not been reported when this was written. ## Background The seat was left open after unidentified people attacked the Mandevu results totalling centre during the 13 August general election, destroying equipment and stopping the count. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) ordered a fresh poll for 5 November. Three candidates then withdrew: Ntazana Musukuma Mutungwa of the Leadership Movement, Daniel Chisenga of the Forum for Democracy and Development and independent Daniel Daka. Mr Chisenga has said death threats against his family forced him out. The UPND has denied pressuring any opposition candidate to quit. The Tonse Alliance asked the ECZ to cancel the by-election so the opposition could find new candidates, and the commission refused, saying the law allows th