Zambia’s President‑elect Hakainde Hichilema is set to be sworn in for a second term on 1 September as the Constitutional Court weighs whether a petition challenging the legality of his 2026 re‑election was validly filed.
Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said Tuesday the seven‑day period for lodging election petitions expired without the judiciary formally receiving any petition opposing the outcome of elections held on 13 August.
“In this regard, the swearing in of the President-elect Mr Hakainde Hichilema shall be held on Tuesday 1 September 2026 in accordance with the provisions of Article 105 of the Constitution of Zambia Act No. 2 of 2016,” Kangwa said in a statement.
However, Chief Justice Mumba Malila confirmed late Tuesday that he had received a document titled “The People’s Presidential Petition” via his private email, an irregular method of submission.
Malila referred the matter to the Constitutional Court to decide whether it qualifies as a petition.
The document was reportedly prepared by lawyer Linda Kasonde on behalf of losing candidate Brian Mundubile, who polled 38 percent against Hichilema’s 60 percent.
Kasonde said she attempted to file electronically before the deadline for petitions on 24 August, but the submission bounced, prompting her to forward it to Malila’s email.
The Zambian authorities on Monday controversially closed all courts of law across the country over alleged “security concerns” despite that day being the deadline for people wishing to file petitions against the election outcome.
Mundubile has alleged irregularities in the vote and vowed to pursue constitutional remedies. His camp argues the petition raises serious questions about electoral transparency.
Hichilema, who first took office in 2021, now faces the prospect of beginning his second term under the shadow of unresolved legal proceedings, adding tension to Zambia’s political landscape.
JN/APA