United Transformation Movement (UTM) secretary General Patricia Kaliati has asked the clergy to continue praying for the country as fresh presidential elections are looming.

Kaliati made the plea yesterday at St. Augustine in Mangochi where Tonse Alliance running-mate who is also UTM president Saulos Chilima held a political campaign rally.

This follows a series of violence that have been taking place in some parts of the country.

Just few days ago the state vice president was forced to cancel his whistle stop tours after suspected Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) supporters stoned his convoy.

A similar incident happened in Phalombe where Chilima was also stoned leaving journalist from Times Group and Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) injured,

DPP-UDF running-mate Atupele Muluzi was also stoned in Dowa, Mponela by suspected Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM supporters.

In her remarks Kaliati popularly known as Akweni pleaded with the youths to refrain from being used as vessels of violence by politicians.