A threatening pamphlet has been distributed in Samora Machel in Nyanga, warning foreigners that they will "face the wrath of the community" if they fail to leave the area before Human Rights Day on Sunday.

Nyanga police are investigating the origin of the letter.

The letter was signed "Youth Leaders of Samora".

Police spokeswoman Captain Ntombixolo Sitshitshi said the station saw a copy on Wednesday.

"We are going to verify this information and investigate where it originates from. We will be engaging community leaders and the community policing forums to deal with the matter."

She said police would keep a close eye on the area.

Martin Makasi, the acting secretary of the Nyanga community policing forum, said: "Somewhere in the dark corners of the community these people are gathering and sending out these notes, but we will make sure that nobody is chased out of the area."

Makasi appealed to those who wrote the note to come forward, so that their issues could be addressed.

Braam Hanekom, the chairman of People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty, said Zimbabweans living in the area informed them about the flyer and the organisation informed police.