"With chapters on Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Senegal and Zambia, this study investigates the attrition among elected political leaders and the costs of replacing them; the loss of elected representatives, its effect on constituencies, power dynamics in parliamentary structures and on democratic governance; the failure to maintain voter registers and how it affects the credibility of electoral outcomes; the effect of stigma and discrimination on political participation"--P. [4] of cover.