Zambia closes courts as opposition prepares election petition

What the report says

Zambian courts in Lusaka and several other cities were closed on August 24 as the deadline approached for opposition figure Brian Mundubile to file a petition challenging the August 13 presidential election results. The Independent Uganda reported that the closure affected the Supreme Court, High Court and Constitutional Court premises in the capital, with similar access restrictions also reported in Ndola, Chipata and Livingstone. Police were stationed at some facilities, and court users were told cases would be adjourned or the closures would remain in place until further notice.

The timing drew attention because August 24 was described as the final day available under Zambia’s constitutional rules for a challenge to President Hakainde Hichilema’s declared victory. The article said Hichilema was announced winner on August 16, and that no confirmation had emerged by Sunday evening that Mundubile had filed a petition. The Judiciary said the closures were for security reasons, while online commentators and opposition-linked figures questioned whether the move could affect access to the courts.

According to the report, Mundubile had been contesting under the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, backed by the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance. The piece also noted growing uncertainty inside the opposition camp, with some party officials and allies distancing themselves from a legal challenge. The situation matters because election disputes in Zambia are normally resolved through the courts, making access to the Constitutional Court especially significant when petition deadlines are tightly limited.