Update: Eight of the 14 by-elections set for 5 November never reached a ballot box, leaving UPND unopposed in Mandevu, Lumezi North and Mbala

Update: Earlier coverage reported the UPND's Adrian Banda winning Mandevu unopposed. New since then: the ECZ has given the full count, with eight of the 14 by-elections set for 5 November not held. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) scheduled 14 by-elections for Thursday 5 November, but eight of them could not be held because there was no contest. The eight are the Mandevu and Lumezi North parliamentary seats, the Mbala mayoral seat and five council wards. In Mandevu, Lumezi North and Mbala, other candidates withdrew and left the United Party for National Development (UPND) unopposed. In Maako, Siluwe, Upangoma, Mulimambango and Simanvwa wards, the UPND was the only validly nominated candidate. That left six wards in five districts to vote. ECZ Commissioner Zevyanji Sinkala spoke after touring six of the 10 polling stations in the Lwingishi Ward by-election, accompanied by Mansa District Electoral Officer Dr Josephine Mwanza. "Democracy demands that citizens are given a chance to vote for their leaders," he said. He commended voters, candidates and police for keeping the polls peaceful. ## Background In Mandevu, three candidates 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. ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro rejected calls to cancel the Mandevu poll, saying the Constitution allows the only remaining candidate to be declared the winner. The commission has also voiced concern about candidates pulling out after nomination. Democratic Union president Ackim Antony Njobvu answered that the UPND was to blame. "ECZ is raising an important point, but directing it to the wrong recipient," he said. The polls also ran into trouble with supplies. The ECZ said ballot papers due on an Emirates flight from Dubai on 30 October