The Zambian dictator, Hakainde Hichilema, and his regime are real amateurs when it comes to statecraft!
This statement they issued after shamefully blocking the opposition from accessing courts is a real disgraceful exercise in bureaucratic evasion. It answers none of the questions that matter after the dictator deployed the army at all High court buildings in Zambia.
Courts are not departments of the Executive. They constitute an independent arm of the State. Hiding their closure behind vague references to “Government premises” demonstrates either constitutional illiteracy or deliberate deception or both.
Most revealingly, the word “court” does not appear anywhere in the statement. The police refer vaguely to “selected key Government premises” and list ministries and departments. This deliberately avoids the central issue, that courts were closed, heavily armed soldiers surrounded them, and some court premises were sealed with “Crime Scene” tape during the constitutionally limited period for filing a presidential election petition.
If this was merely a “security risk assessment,” why were courts closed? Why was Crime Scene tape used? What crime had supposedly occurred? What was the specific threat? Who authorised the deployment of soldiers? Under what law were they deployed at court premises? Which institutions were affected, and for how long?
The statement claims that the operation was “professional” and “lawful,” but repeating those words does not make it so. Lawfulness is demonstrated by identifying the legal authority, explaining the necessity of the measures, and showing that they were proportionate. None of that is provided in this pathetic statement.
Nor does it demonstrate its own claims about purpose. The statement says the operation was intended to protect members of the public “accessing these premises,” yet the public was prevented from accessing them. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It says the operation was not directed at any individual or group, while ignoring its foreseeable effect on people attempting to exercise time-sensitive constitutional rights.
This is a hastily assembled propaganda statement intended to conceal more than it reveals, it is merely responding to global revulsion against this regime.
If there was a genuine security threat, the authorities must disclose its nature, the legal basis for closing the courts, who authorised the military deployment, and what alternative arrangements were created for urgent court filings.
Until those questions are answered, this statement looks like a post-election cover story designed to sanitise an outrageous assault on access to justice and the independence of Zambia’s judiciary by a president who knows that he fiddled the election figures!
He should have consulted his brother south of the border and asked him how elections are rigged, instead of staging this amateurish display that has reversed Zambia’s democratic gains. Those gains were set in motion by Zambia’s founding father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, in 1991, when he accepted the people’s verdict and peacefully transferred power to Frederick Chiluba. Hakainde Hichilema has disgraced that proud democratic legacy.
The Zambian regime Statement 👇🏿
ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT
SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENTS AT KEY GOVERNMENT PREMISES
AUGUST 24, 2026 — The Zambia Police Service, in collaboration with other law enforcement and security agencies, is conducting security risk assessments at selected key Government premises across the country.
The operations are intelligence-led and preventive, aimed at safeguarding Government institutions, public officers, and members of the public accessing these premises. The exercise seeks to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities and prevent threats to public safety and the functioning of Government institutions.
The assessments are being conducted at selected premises under the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, National Prosecution Authority, Attorney General’s Chambers, and other selected Government departments and institutions.
The Zambia Police Service wishes to clarify that the exercise is not directed at any individuals or group. It is part of ongoing security measures to strengthen protection at critical Government premises and ensure the safety of persons and property.
The operations are being conducted professionally, lawfully, and in coordination with security and law enforcement agencies.
The exercise is ongoing, and further information will be provided. Members of the public are urged to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel, and comply with security instructions.
Signed
GRAPHEL C. MUSAMBA
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
Hopewell Chin’ono on X: "The Zambian dictator, Hakainde Hichilema, and his regime are real amateurs when it comes to statecraft! This statement they issued after shamefully blocking the opposition from accessing courts is a real disgraceful exercise in bureaucratic evasion. It answers none of the"
Dude serves one term and suddenly he’s a “dictator”? 😂 As someone who has actually lived under a dictatorship all my life, please allow me to adjust my dictionary because clearly the definition has changed! Meanwhile, the Kwacha has strengthened significantly and HH has a
So if they have received some intelligence that threaten national security, they should fold their arms in the name of democracy. Ukraine even suspended elections becoz of war. Come on guys be reasonable.
Mr Chinono, how do you write such long essay. I suggest you put a summary cause hey ma1
