Zambia’s Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha has told the Constitutional Court that the country’s courts were closed for three days in August on the instructions of security agencies, rather than by the Judiciary itself. Mr Kabesha made the disclosure while asking the Constitutional Court to dismiss, with costs, a petition by Chapter One Foundation challenging the closure […]

Zambia’s Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha has told the Constitutional Court that the country’s courts were closed for three days in August on the instructions of security agencies, rather than by the Judiciary itself.

Mr Kabesha made the disclosure while asking the Constitutional Court to dismiss, with costs, a petition by Chapter One Foundation challenging the closure of court premises and suspension of judicial services between August 24 and 26, 2026.

The Attorney-General said the Judiciary’s Chief Administrator merely communicated directives issued by the country’s defence and national security services after security concerns were identified. His submissions place responsibility for the controversial shutdown on the security establishment and not on the Judiciary, which had previously communicated to staff that court premises were being closed for security reasons.

The disclosure comes amid continued questions over the circumstances surrounding the closure, which coincided with the period for challenging the outcome of Zambia’s presidential election.

The affected facilities included the High Courts in Lusaka, Ndola, Chipata and Livingstone, as well as the Constitutional Court and Supreme