Zambia closes courts on last day to file election challenge

On the final day for filing an election challenge in Zambia, the country's highest courts were closed, preventing the opposition from submitting their objections to the recent disputed vote. Chief administrator of the judiciary advised all staff members not to come to work due to security concerns, while police spokesman refused to disclose further details.

The deadline for filing such a challenge is seven days after the result announcement, which would be early Tuesday. Opposition leader Brian Mundubile had planned to file a petition at the Constitutional Court to contest the August 13 election results, where he finished second to President Hakainde Hichilema. Despite Hichilema's win with around 60% of the votes in Zambia's copper-rich nation, two independent observers raised suspicions that Hichilema's vote tally might have been exaggerated.

Hichilema has dismissed any claims of fraud. Mundubile had been summoned by police for questioning regarding alleged national security threats last week, which he claims are baseless. Analysts and human rights lawyers suspect that he might be hindered from filing his petition, although Hichilema's party maintains that Mundubile can proceed through established legal channels.

"We are doing our best to ensure the petition is filed, but we will see how it goes," said Chishala Kateka, president of Mundubile's opposition party, the New Heritage Party.