The three judges were among those set to decide whether ex-President Lungu can stand in next year's poll.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has suspended three top judges over alleged judicial misconduct, prompting accusations of political interference in the judiciary.
Political tensions are rising in Zambia ahead of elections in 2026, when Hichilema and Lungu are expected to face each other for a fourth time. The suspended judges - Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda - are yet to comment on the matter. "The suspensions of the three is in exercise of the powers vested in the president," the presidency statement stated, without giving further details.The move sparked sharp criticism, with Lungu's Patriotic Front saying the suspension was illegal.
The judges' suspension comes barely 48 hours before the Constitutional Court sits to hear Lungu’s re-opened eligibility case.and is set to contest the 2026 presidential race - against Hichilema.
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