JEAN KAPATA FOR TONSE PAMODZI, ADRIAN BANDA FOR UPND IN MANDEVU BY-ELECTION

The political landscape in Lusaka's densely populated Mandevu Constituency is heating up following key candidate adoptions by major political entities ahead of the upcoming parliamentary by-election. The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance has officially announced the adoption of veteran politician and former Mandevu lawmaker Hon. Jean Kapata as its parliamentary candidate. Meanwhile, the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has countered by naming Adrian Banda as its official flagbearer for the seat. Hon. Kapata brings extensive political mileage to the race, having previously served as Mandevu Member of Parliament and held several high-profile cabinet portfolios during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration. Her adoption by the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance is viewed by political analysts as a strategic move to leverage her deep-rooted familiarity with the constituency, grassroot networks, and recognizable profile among urban voters. The alliance is banking on her historical footprint in the area to galvanize support against formidable opposition. On the other side of the political aisle, the ruling UPND announced its selection of Adrian Banda following a rigorous internal evaluation process overseen by party election officials at the national headquarters in Lusaka. Mr. Banda, who has deep connections within the constituency, emerged from a pool of aspirants after widespread consultations across local party structures. The ruling party leadership has urged all local structures and unsuccessful applicants to rally behind Mr. Banda to secure a decisive victory. The Mandevu by-election follows electoral developments that necessitated a fresh ballot, drawing intense interest from political observers across Zambia. As one of Lusaka's largest constituencies, Mandevu traditionally serves as a bellwether for urban political sentiment. Both the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance and the ruling party are expected to pour significant resources into grassroots campaigning over the coming