Zambia Closes Courts, Blocking Election

Zambian authorities closed and cordoned off the nation's courts without credible explanation on August 24, 2026. This action effectively blocked the filing of any legal challenges to the results of the August 13 presidential election, Human Rights Watch stated today.

Zambian police stated the closures were an "intelligence-led and preventive measure," but provided no details. A notice from the judiciary's chief administrator to court staff, seen by Human Rights Watch, said the premises were closed "for security reasons." The notice said guidance on reopening would be issued "once the situation is contained." The closure coincided with the deadline to file legal challenges to the declaration of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema as the winner.

Blocked Access to Justice

One lawyer told Human Rights Watch he arrived at the High Court in Lusaka on the morning of August 24 to find it cordoned off by heavily armed police. They ordered him to leave. A statement from seven Zambian civil society organizations said sealing off courts nationwide and suspending judicial services entirely deprived Zambians of their constitutional right to file an electoral challenge. The organizations stated that "the right of access to the courts is meaningless if the courts can simply be closed at the precise moment citizens most need them."

The Law Association of Zambia raised concerns in a media statement. It noted that beyond the internal memorandum, authorities provided no explanation or justification for closing the courts. Human Rights Watch said this fuels concerns that the real reason was to frustrate the right of aggrieved parties to challenge the election results.

Constitutional and International Obligations

Under article 103 of the Constitution of Zambia, court challenges to election outcomes must be filed within seven days of the declaration of results. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared President Hichilema the winner on August 18. The official tally had him winning 60.7 percent of the vote, with 38 percent for his opponent, Brian Mundubile. Following the announcement, Mundubile alleged "serious irregularities, inconsistencies and circumstances surrounding the conduct, counting, transmission, and declaration of results" and said he would challenge the results in court.

From the declaration on August 18, the last day to lawfully file a petition was August 24.

Under international human rights law, Zambia is required to uphold the independence of its courts. The judiciary should be free from "improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats, or interferences." Human rights law also requires Zambia to offer effective pathways to a remedy for human rights violations, which requires meaningful access to justice through the courts.

"The courts play a vital role in protecting the rights guaranteed under Zambia's constitution for resolving election-related disputes," said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "Measures that effectively deny the opposition crucial access to the courts to challenge the conduct and validity of the presidential election are a blow to the administration of law, transparency, and due process in Zambia."

Ngari added that any security measures affecting the courts should be strictly necessary, proportionate, and time-limited while preserving access for urgent filings. "No one should be denied an effective remedy because the courts were unavailable during a constitutionally prescribed filing period," he said.