President Hichilema Completes Construction of Personally-Funded Level One Hospital in Mongu
President Hakainde Hichilema has today fulfilled his pledge to build a fully-fledged health facility along the Mongu–Limulunga Road, with the completion of a Level One Hospital funded entirely from his personal resources and those of his family.
The hospital, situated on three hectares of land at Sing'anda village in Mongu District of Western Province, marks the culmination of a project that began in October 2022 when the President broke ground on the site. The land was gifted to President Hichilema by the local community through Induna Kapui, at the location along the Mongu–Limulunga Road — popularly known as the "Treason Road" — where the former opposition leader was arrested on politically motivated treason charges during the Patriotic Front era.
The Level One Hospital is equipped with male and female admission wards, a modern laboratory, and a comprehensive range of primary and secondary healthcare services. The facility is expected to be handed over to the Ministry of Health for integration into Zambia's public health system, ensuring free and accessible care for thousands of residents in the Kalangu area and surrounding communities who have historically faced long and costly journeys to reach Lewanika General Hospital or Mongu District Hospital.
From Treason Road to a Place of Healing
The story behind the hospital is one of personal resilience transformed into public service. In 2017, while serving as leader of the opposition UPND, Mr Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason near the site — allegations widely condemned as politically motivated and later dropped. In April 2022, community leaders gifted the President three hectares of land at the location in recognition of the suffering he endured.
Rather than treat the gesture as symbolic, President Hichilema announced at the October 2022 groundbreaking ceremony that he would use his own resources to construct a health facility for the community.
"I am overwhelmed by the gesture, this gesture that came to me in an unexpected way," the President said at the time, pledging to turn the site into something that would serve the people for generations.
The Level One Hospital situated on the Mongu-Limulunga Road aka ‘Treason Road’.
Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa, who conducted a spot inspection of the construction works alongside Western Province Minister Kapelwa Mbangweta in January 2025, commended the quality of workmanship delivered by local contractors on the project.
"This is the local workmanship that President Hichilema is advocating for. Local entrepreneurs should take this opportunity seriously," Mr Mweetwa said, highlighting the project as an example of the President's commitment to empowering Zambian businesses.
Mr Mbangweta described President Hichilema as a selfless leader, noting that the hospital was built from the President's family coffers and that he had also donated cattle to communities in the area and across the country.
Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure Nationwide
The completion of the Mongu–Limulunga Road Level One Hospital adds to a growing network of health facilities delivered under the New Dawn administration. Since taking office in August 2021, the government has prioritised bringing healthcare closer to the people, commissioning Level One Hospitals across the country including the Chamboli and Chimwemwe hospitals in Kitwe and the Chililabombwe District Hospital.
The government's broader health infrastructure programme has seen the construction of mini hospitals and health posts in multiple provinces, the recruitment of thousands of healthcare workers, and sustained investment in medical equipment and supplies.
What sets the Mongu facility apart is that it represents the personal philanthropy of the Head of State — a distinction that underscores President Hichilema's long-documented commitment to community development, which dates back to his days as a private citizen when he built a mini hospital in his home village of Hakainde in Bweengwa.
Community Welcomes New Facility
Residents of Kalangu and the wider Mongu District have welcomed the completion of the hospital, describing it as a transformative addition to the area's healthcare landscape. The facility will serve communities along the Mongu–Limulunga corridor that have previously relied on overburdened existing facilities, and is expected to significantly reduce travel times for patients seeking admission-level care.
Community leaders have called on the Ministry of Health to ensure the hospital is staffed with qualified health professionals and stocked with essential medicines and equipment so that it can deliver the full range of Level One services from the outset.
The handover of the facility to the Ministry of Health will ensure its long-term sustainability as part of Zambia's expanding public health network — a fitting legacy for a road once associated with political persecution, now home to a place of healing.