Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson on Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha has congratulated Symon Vuwa Kunda for defending the Nkhata-Bay Central Parliamentary seat.

Unofficial results from 29 polling centres show Kaunda polled 5,439 votes while his main challenger Raphael Joseph Mhone of the Peoples’ Party got 5, 223 votes.

Writing on his official facebook page Mwanamvekha said Vuwa Kaunda’s win is true reflection that DPP is still strong in the north.

“Heartfelt Congratulations to my brother Symon Vuwa Kaunda for returning to the August House under the DPP ticket.

“While some in DPP did not want you to win, some of us had to offer ourselves with strategic, moral and material support to make sure that the seat remains DPP’s,” wrote Mwanamvekha.

He added: “Special thanks should go to His Excellency the immediate former President of the Republic and current DPP President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, Dr Goodall Gondwe; DPP Vice President for the North and the whole Northern Region Leadership, Hon Jappie Mhango, Hon Martha Lunji and all MPs who spare some energy in the fight.

“The Whole Campaign Team, The DPP Youth Director and his team, the whole Nkhatabay District and Constituency leadership deserves a pat at the back for the wonderful effort.

“This constituency reclaiming by DPP through Vuwa was something personal to me, that I travelled North just after the court’s ruling, to strategize in the realisation of this victory!

“The DPP has floored a coalition of 9 parties in this Nkhatabay Central parliamentary seat election. What a win! This is a strong indication that come 2025, DPP will be bouncing back to serve the people of Malawi in running the executive affairs of the nation.”

Meanwhile Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will announce official results today in Blantyre.