Zambia Courts Sealed Off as Deadline to Challenge Presidential Election Result Looms
- Courts in Lusaka and other parts of Zambia were shut on Monday, the final day to file a petition against the presidential election outcome
- Armed men were reported approaching lawyers at court premises, ordering them to leave as opposition candidate Brian Mundubile remained in hiding
- EU observers raised concerns over military presence at tallying centres and lack of transparency in how the election result was compiled
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Court buildings across Zambia, including the High Court and Supreme Court in the capital, Lusaka, were sealed off on Monday, the final day for filing a legal petition against the outcome of the country's presidential election.
Lawyers who travelled to court premises reported being turned away by armed men. One lawyer told the BBC that three armed individuals approached his vehicle, said they were from the security services, and told him to vacate the area.
Source: Getty Images
According to BBC, police tape blocked access to several locations, and an unusually heavy police presence was noted across multiple courts in the country.
Mundubile remains in hiding
Opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, who came second in the 13 August poll with 38% of the vote, had announced plans to contest the result, alleging irregularities. Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema won re-election with 60% of the vote.
Mundubile has since gone into hiding, with his campaign saying he is under the protection of an international human rights body following what it described as threats against him.
His decision to seek refuge came after a series of events that rattled the opposition. Security officers raided a location in Lusaka and killed former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya in what officials characterised as an exchange of fire.
Several other opposition figures were also arrested in the aftermath of the election. The killings and arrests drew strong condemnation from rights groups.
Amnesty International described Kafwaya's death as "deeply alarming" and demanded a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. The Law Association of Zambia similarly expressed "grave concern" and called for an independent inquiry.
Inauguration preparations continue
Despite the legal and political uncertainty, arrangements for Hichilema's inauguration are pressing ahead. The ceremony is scheduled for 1 September at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, and the youth and sport ministry has already issued media invitations for journalists to join a cabinet official on an inspection of the venue.
If a petition is successfully filed before the deadline closes, it could potentially delay or complicate the inauguration process.
International observers who monitored the election described polling day itself as largely peaceful but flagged several concerns. The European Union observation mission said restrictions placed on the opposition may have contributed to what it called an "uneven contest."
On vote counting, the mission noted an intimidating military presence at some tallying centres, reported attacks on others, and criticised weak verification between digital records and paper tally sheets. It also said returning officers frequently stopped proceedings while awaiting guidance from headquarters, and called for "maximal transparency" over the final result, noting that the electoral commission never published individual polling-station figures.
It was not immediately clear when the sealed court premises would reopen. The BBC said it had contacted the Zambian police and the judiciary for comment but had not received a response.
Source: Twitter
Ex-minister shot dead during security raid
Legit.ng earlier reported that Zambian authorities have confirmed that former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, 49, died after being shot during a security operation in Lusaka on Friday, July 18, a day after the country's presidential election.
A police spokesman said Kafwaya was fatally wounded when a joint security task force conducted a raid on a property linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile.
Source: Legit.ng
