Access to Zambian courts prevented as election petition deadline looms

Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the presidential election result in court Court premises in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, and elsewhere have been shut as the deadline for filing a petition against the outcome of the recent presidential election approaches. An unusual police presence has been reported at some courts, which have been taped off to prevent access. Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the election result, citing irregularities, after coming second with a 38% share of the vote. Incumbent 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 dead of an opposition figure and the arrest of others.

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Scoop News DeskZambian · Published Monday, August 24, 2026 at 2:02 PM UTCUpdated Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 1:06 PM UTC

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Referring to the "unsigned memorandum" from the judiciary addressing staff, it said no further official information had been provided to lawyers and the public. "The closure of the courts has immediate implications for access to justice, particularly for persons requiring urgent judicial intervention," it said in a statement It said the timing was "particularly significant in the present electoral context", citing a "seven-day period" in which a person may "petition the Constitutional Court to nullify the election of a President-elect". The challenge of selling a house with a dark past Royal Watch: Get the latest royal stories and analysis with Sean Coughlan’s weekly newsletter Busby, Shankly and Stein: The makers of modern football The rise and fall of a transatlantic cocaine empire First look: Explore Kenya's spectacular birds of prey with Hamza A poignant story of an extraordinary blended family Kit Harington replaces Nicholas Hoult in HBO's Harry Potter series Beyond China's humanoid robots, a quieter machine revolution is unfolding UK drone factories may face attacks from 'unknown sources', says former Russian minister 'Burnham hints at tax increases' and 'Halt the hellrides' Organised crime arrests in A66 cr Access to Zambian courts prevented as election petition deadline looms. The EU mission also called for "maximal transparency" over the poll outcome, noting that the electoral commission did not publish separate polling-station results Ex-Zambian minister killed in security raid on opposition Zambia's Hichilema re-elected president as main rival in hiding over alleged threats Top Zambian opposition figures arrested days after presidential vote A burial row over Zambia's late president has turned its election into a hot contest Go to BBCAfrica.com , external for more news from the African continent. Local media cite a directive by a judiciary administrative official telling all staff not to report to work following the closure of courts for "security reasons".

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