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Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa criticised over poison claim | Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa criticised over poison claim |
(35 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe's Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has publicly reprimanded the country's other Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of trying to "destabilise" the country. | Zimbabwe's Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has publicly reprimanded the country's other Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of trying to "destabilise" the country. |
It follows claims that Mr Mnangagwa had been poisoned. | |
The governing Zanu-PF has been battling to contain tensions within the party between rival groups wanting to succeed President Robert Mugabe, 93. | The governing Zanu-PF has been battling to contain tensions within the party between rival groups wanting to succeed President Robert Mugabe, 93. |
Mr Mnangagwa and First Lady Grace Mugabe are seen as the frontrunners. | Mr Mnangagwa and First Lady Grace Mugabe are seen as the frontrunners. |
In a press statement, Mr Mphoko accused his counterpart of lying about being poisoned in August. | In a press statement, Mr Mphoko accused his counterpart of lying about being poisoned in August. |
Mr Mphoki is currently the acting president as Mr Mugabe is out of the country. | Mr Mphoki is currently the acting president as Mr Mugabe is out of the country. |
Mr Mnangagwa fell ill in August at a political rally led by President Mugabe and had to be airlifted to South Africa. | Mr Mnangagwa fell ill in August at a political rally led by President Mugabe and had to be airlifted to South Africa. |
His supporters suggested a rival group within Zanu-PF had poisoned him and appeared to blame ice cream from Mrs Mugabe's dairy firm. | |
Vice-President Mphoko says doctors had confirmed to the president that stale food and not poison was to blame. | Vice-President Mphoko says doctors had confirmed to the president that stale food and not poison was to blame. |
He said the latest claims show an agenda to "undermine the authority" of the president and fuel tensions within the party. | He said the latest claims show an agenda to "undermine the authority" of the president and fuel tensions within the party. |
Lacoste vs G40 | Lacoste vs G40 |
By Shingai Nyoka, BBC News, Harare | By Shingai Nyoka, BBC News, Harare |
This is extraordinary criticism of one vice-president by another and brings the festering tensions within the party into the open. | This is extraordinary criticism of one vice-president by another and brings the festering tensions within the party into the open. |
Last month, First Lady Grace Mugabe told a rally that both she and the president had been having sleepless nights because of accusations that it was ice cream from her dairy business that had been laced with poison. | Last month, First Lady Grace Mugabe told a rally that both she and the president had been having sleepless nights because of accusations that it was ice cream from her dairy business that had been laced with poison. |
Zanu-PF appears split into two sides, and despite President Mugabe's attempts to halt the infighting, it only seems to be getting worse. | Zanu-PF appears split into two sides, and despite President Mugabe's attempts to halt the infighting, it only seems to be getting worse. |
On one side are Mrs Mugabe, Mr Mphoko and Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi, known as Generation 40, or G40. | On one side are Mrs Mugabe, Mr Mphoko and Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi, known as Generation 40, or G40. |
On the other are Mr Mnangagwa and his supporters, who include many government ministers and army generals. They are known as Lacoste, from his nickname ngwena, or crocodile. | On the other are Mr Mnangagwa and his supporters, who include many government ministers and army generals. They are known as Lacoste, from his nickname ngwena, or crocodile. |
It is not clear whether President Mugabe approved this statement directly. But as acting president, it is likely that Mr Mphoko would have made him aware of his intention. | It is not clear whether President Mugabe approved this statement directly. But as acting president, it is likely that Mr Mphoko would have made him aware of his intention. |
Correction 6 October 2017: This story has been amended to make it clear that Mr Mnangagwa has not said his food was poisoned. |