LUSAKA, 26 August 2026 — The Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance has asked the African Union to intervene in Zambia’s disputed presidential election and urge authorities to halt President-elect Hakainde Hichilema’s September 1 inauguration until outstanding legal challenges are resolved.

In a letter dated August 25 to African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, former Zambia Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU Emmanuel Mwamba said recent events had undermined constitutional mechanisms for challenging the election.

Mwamba cited the August 24 closure of court premises, including buildings housing the Constitutional Court, on what he said was the final day for filing a presidential election petition. He said a petition involving former Law Association of Zambia president Linda Kasonde, Brebner Changala and the LCK Freedom Foundation was subsequently transmitted electronically after physical access to the courts was blocked.

The Alliance also raised concerns over the deployment of the military during the electoral process, the suspension of tallying by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, alleged discrepancies between presidential and parliamentary turnout figures, and the August 14 security operation at opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile’s residence in which former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was killed.

Mwamba asked the AU Peace and Security Council to remain seized of the situation and urged the AU to press for full access to the courts, preservation of election materials and audit records, and an independent investigation into the closure of the Judiciary and the August 14 operation.

Tonse-Pamodzi maintains that proceeding with the September 1 inauguration before the Constitutional Court determines the outstanding petition issue could effectively defeat the constitutional process for challenging the presidential election.