Zambian authorities on Monday shut down the high court in Lusaka and other parts of the country, barricading the court premises with a heavy military presence on the final day for opposition candidates to file petitions challenging the presidential election.

The court shutdown was communicated in a memo seen on social media, warning court staff not to go to work on Monday. 

The memo dated August 24, signed by the chief administrator of the Zambian judiciary, Nalishebo Imataa, said, “For security reasons, all members of staff are advised not to report for work today. Guidance will be issued in due course, once the situation is contained.”

The court was cordoned of with crime scene yellow tape.

The opposition candidates had planned to file a petition challenging the results of the August 13 presidential election won by incumbent Hakainde Hichilema.

Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile vowed to challenge the election result, alleging electoral malpractices.

Linda Kasonde, former president of the Law Society of Zambia, in a statement said, “What is happening in Zambia is completely unprecedented. Today, we have witnessed our entire judiciary being shut down, purportedly due to a security threat.”

She added, “Today also happens to be the final day for filing a presidential election petition to challenge the results of the 13th August 2026 presidential election. Today may be the last day of our democracy.”