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Cde Catherine Magaya, secretary to Vice President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, talks to her daughter Melody at West End Hospital in Harare yesterday

Lovemore Mataire and Lloyd Gumbo
Two more people were hospitalised after being affected by a poisonous substance that was sprayed in zanu-pf second secretary and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party office on Tuesday night.

Apart from Cde Mnangagwa’s secretary Cde Catherine Magaya, a driver Cde Dzingai Mutasa and a member of the President’s Office were also admitted at the Intensive Care Unit at a private hospital in Harare.

A forensic audit at the crime scene is underway, while medical personnel are working flat out to ascertain the type of substance that unknown assailants spread on Cde Mnangagwa’s desk.

It is believed the deadly substance was targeted at Cde Mnangagwa so that he would inhale it the moment he opened the door to his office and poison him to death.

Police confirmed yesterday that the number of victims had risen, while investigations were underway.

“The number of people who have been hospitalised is now three — two women and a man,” said police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba. “The man has since been discharged but the two ladies are still in hospital.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the police were “working on a forensic analysis of the crime scene.”

In an interview with The Herald on her hospital bed where she is battling for her life, Cde Magaya accused her boss’ political opponents as being behind the shock plot to kill him through poisoning.

She said it was not the first time that an attempt on Cde Mnangagwa’s life has been made as many bizarre happenings have occurred in her boss’ office in the run-up to the 6th Zanu-PF National People’s Congress.

“Just a few weeks ago, a rock fell from nowhere to land on chef’s desk, missing my head by just an inch,” she said. “I thank God that I am still alive today.”

Cde Magaya recounted another incident when she twisted her neck after going into a trance soon after opening Cde Mnangagwa’s office, just a few days before the start of the congress.

Mr Mutasa, who was with Cde Magaya when she opened her boss’ office on Wednesday morning, was also a victim of the poison.

Mr Mutasa has since been discharged after undergoing some tests.

A medical practitioner at the hospital said it took “a bit of time” to ascertain the nature of the chemical that was sprinkled in the office.

President Mugabe on Wednesday condemned the attempt on Cde Mnangagwa’s life when he addressed the Zanu-PF Central Committee.

He warned members to remain vigilant against people who wanted to inflict physical harm on party cadres.