THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) set November 5 for two parliamentary by-elections and 12 local government by-elections, including the Mbala mayoral poll. However, as was the case in the August 13 general elections, the two parliamentary and Mbala mayoral polls will not be held because UPND candidates have gone unopposed following the withdrawal of their opponents. ECZ has cited Regulations 20(3) and 52(2) of the Electoral Process (General) Regulations, 2016, to declare the candidates duly elected. We recognise that the Commission must administer elections according to law. But procedural compliance does not answer whether the circumstances producing these walkovers are consistent with free and fair elections. In Lumezi, Leadership Movement candidate Nebby Manda resigned on the same day the...