LAZ SAYS COURT REOPENING DOES NOT RESOLVE CONCERNS FROM 3-DAY SHUTDOWN.
LAZ SAYS COURT REOPENING DOES NOT RESOLVE CONCERNS FROM 3-DAY SHUTDOWN.
By Rabecca Lungu Daka
The Law Association of Zambia says the reopening of courts across the country does not by itself resolve the serious concerns arising from the three-day shutdown.
Courts and registries across Zambia were closed for three days from 24th to 26th August 2026 due to security concerns, but resumed operations on 27th August to restore access to justice and judicial services.
Sepaking at a media briefing Thursday morning, LAZ President Arnold Kaluba noted that while access to justice and registry services has resumed, the closure between 24th and 27th August left many court users without clear alternatives for urgent matters.
He highlighted that accused persons seeking bail, survivors of gender-based violence in need of protection orders, and litigants with statutory deadlines may have been prejudiced during the interruption.
Kaluba stressed that access to justice is too important to be treated as an administrative issue and urged the Judiciary to issue immediate guidance on how affected filings and deadlines will be treated.
He acknowledged that security considerations can justify restrictions, but insisted any response must be proportionate and must not cut off essential judicial services.
The LAZ President called on the Judiciary to develop formal contingency arrangements to ensure urgent applications and filings can proceed even when physical access to courts is unavailable.
Kaluba affirmed that the Association stands ready to engage with the Judiciary and other stakeholders to protect the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the rights of all Zambians, including the most vulnerable.