STATE House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka says President Hakainde Hichilema did not order the closure of courts. Hamasaka adds that political disappointment cannot justify attributing the decisions of independent institutions to the Head-of-State. Yesterday, the Lusaka High Court and several judicial complexes countrywide were closed, with armed police officers sealing off the premises, citing security reasons. The closure of judicial institutions came during the seven‑day deadline for filing presidential election petitions, as NRPUP candidate Brian Mundubile was expected to challenge the August 13 results over alleged irregularities in the conduct, counting, transmission, and declaration of votes. And various stakeholders, including the Law Association of Zambia, the Human Rights Commission, NGOCC among others, have condemned the closure, indicating that it...