Courts in Zambia reopen amid post-election petition dispute

ZAMBIA’s courts reopened Thursday, four days after shutting down over a security threat on the deadline to challenge presidential election results. Chief Administrator Yvonne N. Nalomba said in a memo Aug. 26 that staff should return Aug. 27 after security agencies advised that the threat had de-escalated. Police will remain stationed at court buildings, she

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ZAMBIA’s courts reopened Thursday, four days after shutting down over a security threat on the deadline to challenge presidential election results.

Chief Administrator Yvonne N. Nalomba said in a memo Aug. 26 that staff should return Aug. 27 after security agencies advised that the threat had de-escalated. Police will remain stationed at court buildings, she said.

She said there would be visible police presence at all courts and urged staff to remain alert.

The closure occurred Monday, the last day to file a petition challenging results of the Aug. 13 presidential election. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared President Hakainde Hichilema the winner on Aug. 18.

The shutdown drew criticism from some opposition figures who questioned the timing. State House denied that Hichilema ordered the closure, saying security assessments were being conducted at the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs and other institutions.

The Judiciary said no petition was filed in the Constitutional Court Registry by 18:00 on Aug. 24. Chief Justice Dr. Mumba Malila, however, said he received an electronic copy of a document called the “people’s presidential petition” via private email. The Judiciary described the delivery as “highly irregular” but said Malila referred it to the Constitutional Court to rule on proper filing.

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