President Professor Arthur Mutharika’s government through Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi has painfully accepted defeat in the just ended by-elections, saying the “we have lost the war but not the real war.”

Dausi said this in an interview at Mount Soche Hotel on Wednesday just after the official announcement of the Tuesday by-elections by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah.

“This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, but we will go back to the drawing board and do a soul searching so that we correct where we went wrong and not face the similar situation in the next coming Trippatite Election.

“We are accepting the painful defeat but I can confidently tell Malawians and all DPP members that we have just lost the battle and not the real war. We will come out strong in 2019 polls,” he said.

When asked for comment political analyst Ernest Thindwa said he is not surprised with the outcome of the results of the by-elections.

“Recent surveys already spelled doom for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) because of its leadership style and am not surprised with the outcome. What is needed now its for President to act of the shortfalls before its too late.

“As for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) this is not the time to relax,” said Thindwa.