Fazili Abdullah Adams of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won a landslide victory to become the new Council Chairperson for Salima District, securing 11 out of 12 votes cast during the council election held on Wednesday.
Adams, who represents Ndindi-Kambalame Ward, defeated Peter Kadam’manja from Kambwiri-Chisamba Ward in a contest that saw near-unanimous support for the DPP candidate, underscoring the party’s growing influence in local governance across the district.
The election also saw Bunie Mwamadi Amison, another DPP councillor from Chikombe-Chiluwa Ward, chosen as Vice Chairperson, cementing the party’s dominance in the new council leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Adams thanked his fellow councillors for the confidence placed in him and pledged to lead with transparency, unity, and a focus on inclusive development for all communities in the district.
The election followed the swearing-in of twelve councillors earlier in the day at the Salima District Council offices. Out of the twelve, seven are from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), three from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), and two are independents.
The newly constituted council marks a major shift in representation, as only two of the ten councillors who served in the previous five-year term have retained their seats, while ten are newcomers.
Among the new faces is 27-year-old Bunie Mwamadi Amison, the youngest councillor in the history of Salima District Council. Holding a Diploma qualification, Amison’s election as both councillor and Vice Chairperson highlights a generational shift in local politics.
Adams, who first joined politics in 2014, now begins his third consecutive term as councillor, a rare achievement that reflects his experience and trust among the people he serves.
Outgoing Chairperson Emphraim Mathepa has since congratulated the new leadership, urging them to work collaboratively to continue the district’s progress and ensure improved service delivery across all wards.
