Chief Justice confirms receipt of presidential petition, sends it to ConCourt
Chief Justice confirms receipt of presidential petition, sends it to ConCourt
CHIEF Justice Mumba Malila has received an electronic copy of a presidential election petition seeking to challenge the August 13 election outcome, although the Judiciary says the documents were sent to his private email in a highly irregular manner.
The Judiciary said the documents, described as the “people’s presidential petition,” were sent to Dr Malila by a member of the public and contain a challenge to the presidential election outcome and associated documents.
In a statement issued today, Judiciary Deputy Director-Corporate Communications Kalumba Slavin said the Chief Justice had acknowledged receipt of the communication.
Slavin said the Judiciary was aware of social media claims suggesting that the petition had already been formally filed.
Slavin, however, said sending official court documents to the Chief Justice’s private email was not the normal procedure.
“The Chief Justice finds the mode of communication of official court documents through his private address to be highly irregular,” Slavin said.
The Judiciary said despite the irregular mode of submission, Dr Malila had exceptionally used his administrative powers to refer the documents to the Constitutional Court for consideration of the filing of the petition.
“He has quite exceptionally, using his administrative powers, referred the documents received to the Constitutional Court for its consideration on the issue of the filing of the petition,” Slavin said.
Furthermore, the Judiciary disclosed that the affected parties would hear from the Constitutional Court in due course.
The development comes after former Law Association of Zambia president Linda Kasonde, governance activist Brebner Changala and LCK Freedom Foundation Limited moved to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema’s victory in the August 13 presidential election.
The three have cited the Electoral Commission of Zambia, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha and President Hichilema as respondents.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said the Judiciary had not received any petition challenging the presidential election at the expiration of the seven-day constitutional period.
Kangwa said President-elect Hakainde Hichilema would therefore be sworn in on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in accordance with Article 105 of the Constitution.
He said the venue for the inauguration ceremony would be communicated in due course.
“This serves to inform the Nation that at the expiration of the seven days provision allowed for filing in of a petition challenging a Presidential election, the Judiciary had not received any petition,” Kangwa said.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 25, 2026