Algorithmic Elenchus: Deconstructing Structural Incentives and Substantive Due Process in Comparative Law

Thu Aug 27 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ —  The 2026 Zambian presidential election was defined by major legal and structural changes that occurred shortly before the vote. Under Constitutional Amendment Act No. 13 of 2025 and the subsequent May 2026 Electoral Processes Act, the electoral boundary map was dramatically redrawn, expanding the constituency seats from 156 to 226 just three months prior to the election. Following the vote, tension escalated when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended vote counting for six hours on August 14 before declaring incumbent Hakainde Hichilema the victor with 60.49% of the vote. In response, opposition leader Brian Mundubile prepared to file a formal challenge in the Constitutional Court. However, on the final day of the mandatory seven-day filing window, police citing “security reasons” physically sealed the top courts, blockading access and forcing the opposition to resort to an unprecedented digital petition sent directly to the Chief Justice’s personal email. Continue reading →