UPND SCOOPS MANDEVU CONSTITUENCY BY-ELECTION VIA WITHDRAW METHOD
As UPND continues to grow its political dominance through achieving victories without contests, Mandevu Constituency has become the latest stop in the ruling party’s quest to perfect the philosophy of achieving victory without fighting.
With exactly a week before Mandevu parliamentary by-election, UPND candidate Adrian Banda is all but confirmed the next MP for the sprawling Constituency following the withdrawal of three opposition candidates.
Former Lusaka Mayor and Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) candidate Daniel Chisenga, who was contesting on the Tonse Alliance ticket, independent candidate Daniel Daka and Leadership Movement’s Ntazana Muntungwa have suddenly withdrawn from the race despite being in the field campaigning vigorously.
The three opposition candidates have since written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) confirming their withdrawal from the race.
Their withdrawal leaves Banda as the only candidate among the four previous candidates, potentially clearing the way for him to take the Mandevu parliamentary seat without a contest.
The fresh by-election in Mandevu was triggered by an alleged security incident that disrupted the polls during the August 13, 2026 general election.
ECZ alleged that some criminals attacked the constituency’s results-tallying centre, destroying data transmission equipment and stole critical election documents rendering the whole process null and void, prompting the deployment of Zambian Army soldiers.
Before the disruption, Christopher Shakafuswa represented the ruling party, Jean Kapata, Resolute Party (Tonse Alliance) while Banda contested as an independent.
Banda joined the ruling party during the UPND adoption process and managed to dislodge Shakafuswa.
Mandevu becomes the latest victory for the ruling party following the withdrawal of the opposition from the race.
The UPND has ‘won’ the Mbala mayoral by-election in Northern Province unopposed following the withdrawal of the only competitor Pythias Sichitalwe of the Progressive Alliance Party.
Like Banda, the ECZ says it will formally declare UPND Candidate Felix Mulwanda as Mayor of Mbala effective 5th November 2026.-The Vital