Zimbabwe President-designate Emmerson Mnangagwa reveals 'poisoning'

Emmerson Mnangagwa claims he fled Zimbabwe after being told of plans to "eliminate me", adding that he was poisoned in August.
Emmerson Mnangagwa asked Zimbabweans 'to come together'

Zimbabwe's incoming leader has revealed he was subject to an assassination attempt and hailed the start of the country’s "new and unfolding democracy".

Addressing supporters hours after returning to cheering crowds in Harare, Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to create jobs and kickstart the faltering Zimbabwean economy.
The 75-year-old will be sworn in as president on Friday - two weeks after he was sacked as vice president by longtime ruler Robert Mugabe and fled to South Africa.
Mr Mnangagwa said: "I pledge myself to be your servant. I appeal to all genuine patriotic Zimbabweans to come together. We work together. No-one is more important than the other - we are all Zimbabweans.


 Mugabe successor hails 'new democracy'
"We want to grow our economy. We want peace in our country. We want jobs, jobs, jobs in our country."
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The President-designate claimed he left Zimbabwe after being informed of plans to "eliminate me", adding that he was "subjected to poisoning" in August.
He referred to "former president Robert Mugabe" and said: "The people have spoken. The voice of the people is the voice of God."
After emerging from hiding in South Africa, Mr Mnangagwa met with South African President Jacob Zuma and flew to Zimbabwe in a private jet.
Robert Mugabe: End of the dictator
He then met other politicians and officials from ruling party ZANU-PF and was briefed on "what has been happening in his absence", chief whip Lovemore Matuke said.
:: The huge challenges facing Zimbabwe's next leader
Speaking to supporters outside the party headquarters, Mr Mnangagwa revealed he had been in constant contact with military leaders during his exile.
He also praised the military and General Constantino Chiwenga, commander of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, for "managing this process very peacefully".
Mr Mnangagwa's dismissal on 6 October plunged the country into a political crisis and prompted military chiefs to take control of the capital and place Mr Mugabe under house arrest.

2. 1980: Mr Mugabe and then UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher meet the year Rhodesia became Zimbabwe

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   Image: 1979: Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) leader Joshua Nkomo at the Lancaster House talks that led to the end of colonial rule

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   Image: 1980: Mr Mugabe, then newly elected as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, holds a press conference in his garden

5. Image: 1982: Mr Mugabe visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace with his first wife, Sally

6. Image: 1984: Mr Mugabe addressing a crowd at Harare stadium - a year after suppressing an armed rebellion in Ndebeleland

7. Image: 1984: He was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Harare, an institution he would later be chancellor of

8. Image: 1986: Mr Mugabe leaves the scene of the African National Congress (ANC) offices that were bombed days earlier by a South African commando

9. Image: 1986: Cuban president Fidel Castro (C) shares a laugh with Zimbabwean president Canaan Banana (R) and then prime minister Mr Mugabe (L)

10. Image: 1988: Mr Mugabe speaks to the press at the United Nations, about the Africa Prize for Leadership

11. Image: 1993: Chinese president Jiang Zemin (L) welcomes Mr Mugabe (R) with a Chinese honour guard during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

12. Image: 1996: Robert and Grace Mugabe married in a ceremony attended by 6,000 guests

13. Image: The couple became known for their outfits. She was nicknamed 'First Shopper' and 'Gucci Grace'

14. Image: 2005: Mr Mugabe was sometimes seen asleep in public in later years, such as here at an African Union meeting, but friends insisted he remained sharp of mind

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    Image: Mr Mugabe addresses a rally in Sanyati, November 2005, on the eve of the senatorial elections

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    Image: 2017: With his time in office drawing to a close, Mr Mugabe was seen negotiating with generals. Pic: Herald newspaper

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    Image: 1980: Mr Mugabe and then UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher meet the year Rhodesia became Zimbabwe

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The 93-year-old initially refused to stand down, but tendered his resignation on Tuesday after impeachment proceedings were launched by the national parliament.
Mr Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 and was, prior to his resignation, the world's oldest head of state.
Under his presidency, the southern African country's economy collapsed and unemployment rose to more than 90%.