Court facilities in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, and elsewhere have been closed as the deadline to file a petition against the result of the recent presidential election approaches. An unusual police presence has been reported at some courts, which have been cordoned off to prevent access. Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the election result, citing irregularities, after coming in second with a 38% vote share. Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with 60%. Mundubile is in hiding over alleged threats made against him, amid a post-election period marked by controversy, including the shooting of an opposition figure and the arrest of others. Monday is the last day on which a petition can be filed against the result of the presidential election. A request of this type could affect Hichilema’s inauguration, scheduled for September 1. On Monday, lawyers who arrived at court were asked to leave. A lawyer told the BBC that three armed men approached his vehicle, identified themselves and ordered him to leave the area. Courts that have been closed include the Lusaka High Court, the Supreme Court, which also houses the Constitutional Court, and several local courts. It is unclear when the facilities will reopen. The BBC has contacted the Zambian police and judiciary for comment. Local media cite a directive from a judicial administrative officer ordering all staff not to report to work after the courts close for “security reasons.” The memo, which has also been shared online by some opposition figures, does not give details about the security situation. Some commentators have expressed concern about the closure and questioned the independence of the judiciary. A prominent opposition voice, Emmanuel Mwamba, alleged that the action was aimed at preventing Mundubile from petitioning for the presidential election. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) said it was concerned about the closure of the courts and the presence of heavily armed military personnel around the court premises in Lusaka. He said there was no formal public explanation for the closure or its expected duration. and the public. “The closure of the courts has immediate implications for access to justice, particularly for people who require urgent judicial intervention,” he said in a statement. He said the timing was “particularly significant in the current electoral context,” citing a “seven-day period” in which a person can “petition the Constitutional Court to annul the election of an elected president.”
