Zambia Closes Courts On Last Day To File Election Challenge

Zambian authorities closed the country’s top courts on Monday, blocking access to the premises on the last day that the opposition could file a challenge to this month’s disputed election.

Police spokesman Godfrey Chilabi added that security assessments were ongoing, and declined to ⁠give details. A spokesperson for the judiciary could not be reached.

The deadline to file such a challenge is seven days after the result was announced, which would be in the early hours of Tuesday.

At the Supreme Court premises in Lusaka, which also includes the Constitutional Court, all of the ⁠gates were closed and police could be seen inside.

Following the arrests of several of his ⁠associates, Mundubile was summoned by police for questioning last week in connection with alleged national security threats, which he says are fabricated.

Analysts and human rights lawyers said they suspected he might be prevented ⁠from filing his petition, though Hichilema’s party said that Mundubile was free to use the legal routes available to him.