Mnangagwa's secretary recovering after poisoning

The condition of a secretary working for Zimbabwe's new vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa who fell ill after breathing in a poisonous substance has improved, state media reported Thursday.

The woman, named as Catherine Magaya, was reportedly treated in the intensive care unit of a private Harare hospital on Wednesday morning after she entered Mnangagwa's office at the ruling Zanu-PF headquarters and fell ill, the official Herald newspaper reported. Separate reports said a second person was also affected.

Mnangagwa was named first vice president by longtime leader Robert Mugabe later in the day following the sacking of his predecessor Joice Mujuru.

Police described the incident as "very serious".

"We strongly condemn this unlawful act... The culprits shall face the full wrath of the law," police spokesperson Charity Charamba told the paper.

Mugabe said on Wednesday the substance was cyanide but later reports said it had not been identified.