State House Rejects Claims HH Ordered Courts Closed

Hamasaka Says Court Closure Was Linked to Security Assessments, Not Election Petitions

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

In a statement issued on 25 August 2026, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the allegation was inconsistent with Zambia’s constitutional order and the principle of separation of powers.

State House Defends Judicial Independence

Hamasaka said President Hichilema believes in good governance, the rule of law and the independence of State institutions.

He explained that the Judiciary is an independent arm of Government and that the President does not have constitutional authority to determine when, how or from whom courts receive filings.

According to State House, the measures taken on Monday were therefore not directed specifically at the Judiciary.

Security Assessments Conducted at Government Premises

Hamasaka said the Inspector General of Police had confirmed that security risk assessments were being conducted at selected key Government premises across the country.

These included institutions under the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, the National Prosecution Authority and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

He described the operations as intelligence-led and preventive measures intended to protect Government institutions, public officers and members of the public accessing the premises.

State House argued that because the security measures affected several Government institutions, they should not be interpreted as an operation targeting opposition parties or a particular litigant.

State House Cites Previous Court Suspensions

Hamasaka also noted that the suspension of court operations is not without precedent in Zambia.

He cited the COVID-19 pandemic, during which court sittings were curtailed and court calendars disrupted nationwide as part of public safety measures.

According to the statement, such suspensions were administrative responses to circumstances on the ground and normal court operations subsequently resumed.

State House Questions Claims About Election Petitions

The statement also addressed the timing of the court closure in relation to the 2026 presidential election.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared the presidential result on Tuesday, 18 August 2026. State House said the constitutional period for challenging the result therefore opened on that date.

Hamasaka said courts sat, received filings and conducted business during the working days that followed, but no petition against the presidential result was lodged during that period.

He argued that while the law provides an outer deadline for filing an election petition, it does not require a petitioner to wait until the final hours of that period.

State House Calls for Evidence

Hamasaka challenged anyone claiming that a prepared petition was prevented from being filed to provide evidence supporting the allegation.

He said those making such claims should produce the petition and demonstrate when and how an attempt was made to lodge it.

He stressed that serious allegations involving constitutional institutions require evidence.

Government Says Legal Remedies Remain Available

State House further argued that security measures affecting physical access to Government premises should not automatically be interpreted as denial of judicial remedies.

Hamasaka said the legal remedies provided under the Constitution remain available and that courts remain open to citizens seeking to exercise their legal rights.

He also criticised what he described as selective criticism of the Judiciary, arguing that respect for the courts and the rule of law should be consistent.

State House Says Government Will Not Block Legal Challenges

Hamasaka concluded by saying that people with legitimate grievances arising from the election are entitled to pursue all remedies available under Zambian law.

He maintained that the Government would not stand in their way and urged citizens to distinguish political disagreements from the decisions of independent institutions.

State House reiterated that President Hichilema respects the constitutional independence of Zambia’s institutions and called on the country to move forward peacefully and constitutionally following the election.

Hakainde Hichilema, Clayson Hamasaka,