Zambia elections: Courts sealed as deadline for election applications approaches

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, alleging irregularities, after coming second with 38% of the vote. Current President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with 60%.

Mundubile is in hiding over alleged threats against him, amid a post-election period marked by controversy, including the shooting death 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. Such a request could potentially 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.

Despite the court closure, preparations for Hichilema’s inauguration appear to continue.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports invited journalists to accompany a cabinet official on an inspection of preparations at the National Heroes Stadium, where the ceremony is expected to take place.

Mundubile last week rejected the results of the presidential election and said he planned to challenge the result in court.

He remains in a safe location under the protection of what his campaign describes as an “international human rights body.”

He went underground following the arrests of opposition figures and the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a raid by security officers, in what officials described as an exchange of gunfire in a security operation in the capital.

Kafwaya’s arrests and death sparked calls from human rights groups and the Zambian Law Association for independent investigations.

Amnesty International described Kafwaya’s murder as “deeply alarming” and called for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations. The bar association also expressed “serious concern” and demanded an investigation.

Regional and international observers described election day, August 13, as largely peaceful, but expressed concern about late electoral reforms, press freedom, and media access in the run-up to the election.

The EU observation mission said restrictions on the opposition may have contributed to an “unequal contest.”

Regarding vote counting, the mission described a heavy military presence as intimidating and said it had received reports of attacks on some counting centers.

He said staff at many centers did not record results in the minutes as soon as they were announced, citing weak verification between digital entries and paper records. He added that tellers frequently paused proceedings while awaiting instructions from headquarters.

The EU mission also called for “maximum transparency” about the election result, noting that the electoral commission did not publish the results of the polling stations separately.