SHUTTING THE COURTS OF LAW DURING THE PETITION PERIOD – QUESTIONS TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE- CHISHALA KATEKA

SHUTTING THE COURTS OF LAW DURING THE PETITION PERIOD – QUESTIONS TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE CHISHALA KATEKA President – New Heritage Party 26 August 2026 The Courts were surrounded by Police on Friday through to Sunday and have been closed from Monday to date (Wednesday 26 August, 2026). As the result for the Presidential election […]

SHUTTING THE COURTS OF LAW DURING THE PETITION PERIOD – QUESTIONS TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE

CHISHALA KATEKA President – New Heritage Party
26 August 2026

The Courts were surrounded by Police on Friday through to Sunday and have been closed from Monday to date (Wednesday 26 August, 2026).

As the result for the Presidential election was announced on Tuesday at 02:00 hours, the last day for the filing in the petition from Opposition would have been Tuesday 25th. This was not to be because, as everyone knows, the Courts were shut with the reason being cited as “Security reasons”.

Certain questions need to be asked of the Chief Justice and which we, as citizens, require answers to:

1. Following this unprecedented move to have the courts closed on the pen-ultimate and ultimate day for the filing in of the election petition and you being aware of the significance of the dates, what measures or alternative channels were provided to Opposition to file in the petitions?

2. ⁠ If no alternative channels for filing in were provided, why not? Was this deliberate or negligence on your part?

3. Will you, once the courts are opened, allow the Opposition an extra two days to file in their petition, seeing as their inability to file in was purely due to the closing of the courts, under your watch? As you are well aware, precedent in Zambia and across the Commonwealth is that “where a litigant is prevented from filing by state action, time does not run against them”.

Anything less than a 2-day extension would be in bad faith and mean that there is no equity and equity must prevail.

1. Do you believe that denying the Opposition their constitutional right to file a petition is the just thing to do or do you recognise this as an injustice?

From where we are sitting, this is injustice not only to the Opposition but especially to the Zambian people who had pinned their hopes on this petition. It is also an injustice to the President Elect and UPND, who have been robbed of their right to legitimise their victory claims through the court process. Their victory will now forever be highly questioned and will continue to be ridiculed.

5. We have seen that there has been a memo from the Judiciary dated 25 August 2026 signed by the Administrator. Does this mean that the Courts are only half closed, able to conduct some work and issue memos, but not able to receive Petitions?

I end by quoting 2 Chronicles 19:6-7
“And said to the judges “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”