A coalition of youth-led civil society organizations have raised concerns over the temporary closure of Zambia’s superior courts during ongoing security operations, warning that the move could undermine access to justice following the 2026 General Election.
In a joint statement, Fight Inequality Alliance Zambia National Coordinator, Mr. Mputa Ngalande said the nationwide suspension of court operations has raised serious questions about access to justice and the integrity of the post-election legal process.
“The right to access the courts is a fundamental pillar of Zambia’s constitutional democracy,” Mr. Ngalande said.
Mr. Ngalande stressed that the closure was particularly concerning because it occurred during a critical period when citizens and political parties were expected to exercise their constitutional right to challenge electoral results through the courts.
Meanwhile, Fix It Movement lead Mr. Mwiza Zulu has described the emergency shutdown of superior court operations as an unacceptable compromise of judicial independence.
Mr. Zulu said the closure, which was attributed to unspecified security threats on the final day allocated for filing presidential election petitions, could weaken public confidence in the country’s electoral dispute resolution process.
“The closure of the courts at such a critical time has the potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral dispute resolution process,” Zulu said.
He called on authorities to take urgent measures to protect constitutional order and ensure that citizens retained access to judicial institutions.
The civil society organizations further called for the immediate reopening of the courts, demilitarization of civilian areas, adherence to democratic principles and protection of civil liberties.
However, the Zambia Police Service said the security operations were being conducted as a preventive measure and were not targeting any particular individual or group.
In a statement, Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba said police, working with other law enforcement and security agencies, were conducting security risk assessments at selected key government premises across the country.
“The operation is preventive and is not directed at any individual or group,” Musamba said.
Mr. Musamba said the exercise was intended to strengthen the protection of government institutions, public officers and members of the public.
He urged members of the public to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel and comply with security instructions while the operation continued.
“The exercise is ongoing, and further information will be provided,” Musamba said.