Zambia seals courts as election petition deadline nears

Zambian authorities sealed off court premises in Lusaka and other cities as the deadline for filing a petition against the recent presidential election approached. The closure blocked access on the last day the opposition could challenge the result. Critics accuse President Hakainde Hichilema of shedding his democratic facade by preventing legal challenges. The government has not commented on the court closures. The move raises questions about the integrity of Zambia's electoral dispute resolution process.