LUSAKA – The Cabinet Office will on Monday begin a review of the establishment of Maina Soko Military Hospital to facilitate the deployment of junior doctors, Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma has announced.
The move addresses concerns raised by the hospital’s commandant, Brigadier General Levy Muchemwa, who stated the facility faces significant staffing shortages. He reported that the hospital currently operates with only 316 medical personnel against an approved establishment of 879, leaving a majority of the workforce as support staff.
During a visit to distribute Christmas gift hampers to patients, Minister Lufuma acknowledged the challenges and assured that staffing levels would be improved through recruitment. He also pledged that the Zambia National Service (ZNS) would promptly repair a leaking roof at the medical centre.
Brig Gen Muchemwa thanked the minister for the gesture and confirmed the hospital was operating normally over the Christmas holiday. He disclosed that 65 patients were admitted on Christmas Day, including soldiers, their dependents, civilians, and authorised patients.
Minister Lufuma further revealed that patient numbers at the hospital have more than doubled in the past three years. As of November 2025, the facility recorded 93,488 patients, compared to 47,008 in 2022, with projections suggesting the total may exceed 100,000 by year’s end.
