'Poison Plot' to Kill Robert Mugabe's New Vice-President
Zimbabwe's leader claims that Emmerson Mnangagwa, the new vice-president, has already been the victim of an assassination plot
2:45PM GMT 11 Dec 2014
Telegraph, UK
President Robert Mugabe has claimed that his newly-appointed vice president and anticipated successor as Zimbabwe’s leader survived an assassination attempt by poison this week.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s secretary was allegedly the victim because she happened to walk into his office after it had been sprayed with the unknown substance. She is now said to be fighting for her life in Parirenyatwa Hospital in the capital, Harare.
“We are aware of people who really want to harm us. The offices of Comrade Mnangagwa were broken into last night and poisonous powder is spread all over the desk. That powder, which when the door opens and there is a flash of air will be blown up, and then he would breathe it," said Mr Mugabe, according to The Herald, a state daily.
"It was not Mnangagwa who opened the door: it was the secretary, Ms Catherine Magaya. Poor girl there she was, and she breathed it and she is a mess. She is in intensive care just now. Why? Why?
Why? We want investigations to be done. I am just warning you that it's not always those who smile at us who are our friends. Take care!”
Commentators say that Joice Mujuru, the deposed vice-president, could be blamed for the alleged plot to kill her successor.
Last month, the state media linked her to a supposed plan to kill Mr Mugabe himself. Those reports were widely dismissed as a ruse by the ruling Zanu-PF party to blacken Mrs Mujuru’s name and justify her sacking, which finally occurred on Tuesday.
Mr Mugabe has a history of making false and occasionally outlandish accusations. When Zimbabwe ran out of fuel because his bankrupt government was unable to pay for imports, he claimed that the Royal Navy was intercepting tankers on the high seas and bribing their captains to deliver their cargoes elsewhere.
A leading Harare businessman, who asked not to be identified, said the latest reports were equally "insane", adding: “It’s ridiculous, absurd. Why would anyone believe this story which is put out to make people even more suspicious of Joice Mujuru? It’s insanity, but Zanu-PF is insane. But perhaps we should be worried. Maybe they are going to go and grab Joice and charge her, or force her to flee the country.”
Mr Mugabe frequently ensures that political opponents are charged with treason. Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, stood trial in this way over another supposed assassination plot.
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| VP Joice Mujuru and her replacement Emerson Mnangagwa. |
2:45PM GMT 11 Dec 2014
Telegraph, UK
President Robert Mugabe has claimed that his newly-appointed vice president and anticipated successor as Zimbabwe’s leader survived an assassination attempt by poison this week.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s secretary was allegedly the victim because she happened to walk into his office after it had been sprayed with the unknown substance. She is now said to be fighting for her life in Parirenyatwa Hospital in the capital, Harare.
“We are aware of people who really want to harm us. The offices of Comrade Mnangagwa were broken into last night and poisonous powder is spread all over the desk. That powder, which when the door opens and there is a flash of air will be blown up, and then he would breathe it," said Mr Mugabe, according to The Herald, a state daily.
"It was not Mnangagwa who opened the door: it was the secretary, Ms Catherine Magaya. Poor girl there she was, and she breathed it and she is a mess. She is in intensive care just now. Why? Why?
Why? We want investigations to be done. I am just warning you that it's not always those who smile at us who are our friends. Take care!”
Commentators say that Joice Mujuru, the deposed vice-president, could be blamed for the alleged plot to kill her successor.
Last month, the state media linked her to a supposed plan to kill Mr Mugabe himself. Those reports were widely dismissed as a ruse by the ruling Zanu-PF party to blacken Mrs Mujuru’s name and justify her sacking, which finally occurred on Tuesday.
Mr Mugabe has a history of making false and occasionally outlandish accusations. When Zimbabwe ran out of fuel because his bankrupt government was unable to pay for imports, he claimed that the Royal Navy was intercepting tankers on the high seas and bribing their captains to deliver their cargoes elsewhere.
A leading Harare businessman, who asked not to be identified, said the latest reports were equally "insane", adding: “It’s ridiculous, absurd. Why would anyone believe this story which is put out to make people even more suspicious of Joice Mujuru? It’s insanity, but Zanu-PF is insane. But perhaps we should be worried. Maybe they are going to go and grab Joice and charge her, or force her to flee the country.”
Mr Mugabe frequently ensures that political opponents are charged with treason. Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, stood trial in this way over another supposed assassination plot.
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