In a small ZPTC election in Pulivendula, where the elected position lasts only one year, there has been strong resistance from the ruling party to allow pro-opposition voters to come out and vote.
Reports allege that police forces were used to obstruct many of these voters.
If this is the case, one must question the very purpose of holding elections, why waste public money and undermine democracy by preventing some people from voting?
Given such circumstances, some argue it might be more straightforward to pass a resolution in the Assembly.
With their majority, the ruling party could easily pass a bill stating that all ZPTC, MPTC, corporation and municipality positions will be directly nominated by the party forming the government after the general election.
Many already believe, and there is evidence to suggest, that these positions almost always go to ruling party candidates regardless of the contest.
Passing such a bill, while undemocratic in principle, would at least prevent the violence, hooliganism and law and order issues that often accompany these local polls.
It would also save significant amounts of public money currently spent on elections whose outcomes are widely considered predetermined.