Judiciary confirms no petition filed against Hichilema’s election

ZAMBIA’s Judiciary has confirmed that no petition challenging the presidential election result was filed within the constitutional deadline. In a letter dated Aug. 25 to the Secretary to the Cabinet, Chief Administrator Nalishebo Imataa said the Constitutional Court Registry had not received any petition by 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24. The seven-day window to

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ZAMBIA’s Judiciary has confirmed that no petition challenging the presidential election result was filed within the constitutional deadline.

In a letter dated Aug. 25 to the Secretary to the Cabinet, Chief Administrator Nalishebo Imataa said the Constitutional Court Registry had not received any petition by 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The seven-day window to file a petition opened after the Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hakainde Hichilema president-elect between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Citing Article 101(4) and Article 103(1) of the Constitution, as amended by Act No. 2 of 2016, and Order 17 Rule 1 of the Constitutional Court Rules, Imataa said a person may petition the court within seven days of the declaration to nullify an election.

Under Order 17 Rule 8, the registry is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for such petitions.

“Following the 2026 Presidential elections and the declaration of Mr. Hakainde Hichilema as President-elect… no petition had been filed in the Constitutional Court Registry as at 18:00 hours yesterday, 24th August, 2026,” the letter stated.

The confirmation clears the way for Hichilema’s swearing-in, which the Cabinet Office has scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1, in accordance with Article 105 of the Constitution.

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