Courts across Zambia, including key judicial premises in the capital, Lusaka, have been closed as the deadline for filing a petition challenging the outcome of the recent presidential election approaches.
An increased police presence was reported around some court premises, which were sealed off to prevent access to lawyers and members of the public.
Monday is the final day for filing a petition against the presidential election result, with any legal challenge potentially affecting the planned inauguration of President Hakainde Hichilema on September 1.
Opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, who finished second with 38 per cent of the vote, has rejected the results and said he intends to challenge the outcome, citing alleged irregularities.
Hichilema was declared the winner after securing 60 per cent of the vote and is expected to begin a second term if the result is not successfully challenged.
Lawyers who arrived at the courts on Monday were reportedly asked to leave. One lawyer told the BBC that three armed men approached his vehicle, identified themselves and instructed him to leave the area.
Among the premises reportedly sealed are the High Court in Lusaka, the Supreme Court, which also houses the Constitutional Court, and several local courts.
It remains unclear when the courts will reopen. The BBC said it had contacted the Zambian police and judiciary for comment.
Despite the developments, preparations for Hichilema’s inauguration are reportedly continuing.
The Ministry of Youth and Sport has invited journalists to accompany a cabinet official to inspect arrangements at the National Heroes Stadium, where the inauguration is expected to take place.
Mundubile has been in hiding amid what his campaign described as threats against him. He is reportedly being protected by an international human rights organisation.
His decision to challenge the election comes amid a tense post-election atmosphere following the arrest of opposition figures and the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation in Lusaka.
Authorities described Kafwaya’s death as occurring during an exchange of fire, but the incident has prompted calls for an independent investigation from rights organisations and the Law Association of Zambia.
Amnesty International described the killing as “deeply alarming” and called for a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation.
Regional and international observers described election day on August 13 as largely peaceful but raised concerns over electoral reforms, media freedom and opposition access to the media during the campaign.
The European Union Election Observation Mission said restrictions placed on the opposition may have contributed to what it described as an “uneven contest”.
The mission also raised concerns about the vote-tallying process, citing a heavy military presence at some centres, reports of attacks on tallying facilities and weaknesses in the verification of results.
It said electoral officials in several centres did not immediately record results on tally sheets after they were announced and noted discrepancies between digital entries and paper records.
The EU mission called for “maximal transparency” in the final election results, noting that the electoral commission had not published separate results from individual polling stations.
The developments have heightened uncertainty over whether Mundubile will succeed in filing his petition before Monday’s deadline and whether the planned September 1 inauguration will proceed as scheduled.
