Zambia's entire judiciary closed on Monday on the last valid day to file a court challenge against Hichilema's victory.

For now, the closure leaves questions over whether the opposition will be able to secure judicial scrutiny of an election whose result has already become politically contested.

Hichilema won re-election with around 60 percent of the vote, but opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who came second, alleged fraud and vowed to challenge the result in court.