Zambian authorities cordoned off the High Court in Lusaka and other court premises across the country on Monday, 24 August, declaring them “crime scenes” and disrupting proceedings on the final day for filing a presidential election petition.
The shutdown, which also affected lower courts, was announced in a memorandum from the chief administrator of the judiciary, Nalishebo Imataa. She advised all court staff not to report for work because of an alleged security threat.
“For security reasons, all members of staff are advised not to report for work today. Guidance will be issued in due course, once the situation is contained,” Imataa wrote in the memo dated 24 August.
The closures led to the adjournment of court cases and have sparked concerns about access to justice, as they came on the last day for filing a challenge to the 13 August presidential election results.
Former Law Society of Zambia president Linda Kasonde said the development was unprecedented and could have serious consequences for democracy.
“What is happening in Zambia is completely unprecedented. Today, we have witnessed our entire judiciary being shut down, purportedly due to a security threat,” Kasonde said.
“Today also happens to be the final day for filing a presidential election petition to challenge the results of the 13th August 2026 presidential election. Today may be the last day of our democracy.”
The closures come as opposition leader Brian Mundubile is preparing to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema’s re-election.
On 18 August, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared Hichilema the winner with 60 per cent of the vote against Mundubile’s 38 per cent, handing the incumbent a second five-year term.
Mundubile said the result should not stand, citing what he described as “serious irregularities, inconsistencies and circumstances surrounding the conduct, counting, transmission and declaration of results.”
The court shutdown now threatens to make it even harder for the opposition to mount a legal challenge.
The reason for the security alert and why the courts were declared crime scenes was not immediately clear.
More: ZimLive
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