Six ZANU PF councillors from the Sanyati area of Midlands South Province have been accused of threatening to kill villagers in their constituencies, who are suspected of being MDC supporters.

SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme, who spoke to villagers from the area, said they were told the 2012 census count will be conducted by soldiers who can identify MDC supporters. These soldiers will come back with help from the Chinese military and kill any one who supports the MDC.

"Political threats are nothing new in Sanyati but they go unreported because the area is so remote and no one finds out," Saungwme said, adding: " There are a lot of MDC people in Sanyati who feel that they were robbed during the elections in 2008."

Saungweme said villagers in six wards described the same threats involving Chinese soldiers. He was given a list of councillors who had publicly threatened villagers in Sanyati.

The list includes councillor Isaac Muchekeni of ward 11, Nzungu Cherwa of ward 16, Musolin Velemu of ward 12, councillor Choga of ward 13, Tachiona of ward 17 and Madhaka of ward 18.

Incidents of political violence and intimidation have intensified around the country, despite talk of peace by the principals leaders in the coalition. The perpetrators are mostly ZANU PF thugs who operate with impunity and the partisan police, soldiers and intelligence agents, who support them.