𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

State House has rejected claims that President Hakainde Hichilema ordered the closure of courts on Monday, August 24, 2026, to prevent the opposition from filing election petitions.

Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said President Hichilema respects the separation of powers and has no constitutional authority to determine when or how courts receive filings.

In a statement, Mr Hamasaka said the security measures affected several Government institutions, including those under the Ministry of Justice, Home Affairs and Internal Security, the National Prosecution Authority and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

He says the operations were intelligence-led and preventive, aimed at protecting Government institutions, public officers and members of the public accessing the premises.

Mr Hamasaka says the courts remained open after the August 18 presidential results were declared, and no petition challenging the presidential result was filed during the working days that followed.

“The election is over. Those with legitimate grievances are entitled to pursue every remedy the law provides, and Government will not stand in their way,” Mr Hamasaka said.

By Fortune Sianezuna