Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has launched an unprecedented attack on the country’s other Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of undermining President Robert Mugabe by alleging he was poisoned at a political rally in August.
Mr Mnangagwa's claim was a "calculated" challenge to Mr Mugabe's "public account that Mnangagwa’s medical doctor ruled out poisoning" as the cause of his "traumatising vomiting and diarrhoea" experience at the 12 August rally, Mr Mphoko said.
"There’s now little doubt, if there ever was any, that there appears to be an agenda to undermine the authority of President Mugabe and to destabilise the country by using lies to fan ethnic tensions for political purposes," Mr Mphoko said.
"This must stop and do so sooner rather than later," he added.
Mr Mnangagwa fell ill at the rally addressed by Mr Mugabe in the southern town of Gwanda.
He was flown to South Africa for emergency medical treatment, and returned home about a week later.
At a rally last weekend, Mr Mnangagwa said he had been poisoned, like the late national heroine, Shuvai Mahofa, had been poisoned at a conferenbce of the ruling Zanu-PF party in Victoria Falls in 2015.
Mr Mnangagwa is seen as a potential successor to President Robert Mugabe, 93.
His main rival for the post is said to be Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace
