Three candidates withdraw from Zambia’s Mandevu by-election
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
Three opposition candidates have withdrawn from the Mandevu parliamentary by-election, leaving Adrian Banda, the ruling UPND party’s candidate, as the sole contender. The vote is scheduled for 5 November 2026, but his election unopposed still depends on electoral rules and confirmation by the Zambian electoral commission.
Three opposition candidates have withdrawn from the Mandevu parliamentary by-election in Zambia, leaving Adrian Banda, the ruling UPND party’s candidate, as the sole contender ahead of the vote scheduled for 5 November. Daniel Chisenga of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), independent candidate Daniel Daka and Ntazana Muntungwa of the Leadership Movement separately informed the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of their withdrawals in letters dated 28 October, the Zambian Observer reports.
Daniel Chisenga, who was standing under the Tonse alliance, gave no reason. Daniel Daka asked the ECZ to remove his name from the ballot, while Ntazana Muntungwa cited financial difficulties, according to the Zambian newspaper.
Adrian Banda will be declared elected unopposed only after the electoral procedure has been applied and the ECZ has officially confirmed the outcome. The Mandevu by-election was called after the 13 August poll was cancelled following an attack on the results collation centre, according to the Zambian Observer.
