Harare - Police in the Zimbabwean capital Harare confirmed late on Wednesday that a “poisonous substance” had been sprinkled in vice-president-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa's office at the ruling party’s headquarters.
This was reported by ZBC radio earlier in the day as an attempt on his life.
President Robert Mugabe earlier said the poison was cyanide, but this was not confirmed by police.
Mnangagwa's secretary, who was the first to enter the office, had been taken to hospital, ZBC reported.
Mnangagwa was named vice-president on Wednesday afternoon, along with the former ambassador to South Africa, Phelekezela Mphoko.
The appointments came a day after vice-president Joice Mujuru was announced sacked for allegedly plotting to oust the 90-year-old president.
Zanu-PF has been torn by increasingly bitter infighting in the last few months as factions led by Mnangagwa and Mujuru fought to manoeuvre themselves into direct line to succeed Mugabe.
Sapa