Under the deal, Mugabe remains President chairing cabinet and heading defence while Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister, chairing a council of Ministers and responsible for the day-to-day running of government. The leader of the smaller faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic change (MDC), Mutambara becomes Deputy prime Minister. The term of office for the Unity Government has been pegged at five years instead of Tsvangirai’s proposed two-year during the talks.

To read the complete agreement between ZANU-PF and MDC click here

The three leaders smiled and shook hands to deafening applause from the over 3,000 invited guests who included African Dignitaries such as Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete at a colourful signing ceremony held at the Harare International Conference Centre on Monday. "This agreement sees the return of hope to all our lives," Reuters news agency reported Tsvangirai to have said after the ceremony.

Zimbabweans and the international community including the UN have welcomed the deal, brokered by South Africa President Thabo Mbeki. It is seen as the starting point for an economic recovery process as well as a national unifying factor and a political healing process. This follows years of political tension, allegations of human rights abuses by the Mugabe regime as well as a dying economy with an excess of 10 million per cent inflation. It is hoped that the deal would open floodgates for international donor support as well as multi-lateral financial inputs from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and others who had chickened out in the early 2000’s in protest to Mugabe’s rule particularly the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms.

Concerns

There are, however, concerns on the size of the new Government, which is even bigger than that of a large and economically stable country such as the USA. The ruling Zanu-PF party will have 15 ministers and 80 deputy ministers, while Tsvangirai is to command 13 ministers and six deputies. Mutambara will be in charge of three ministers and a deputy. This is considered a very top-heavy establishment and excessively costly in a poor country like Zimbabwe, struggling to get out of economic doldrums.

Analysts say the power-sharing deal is shaky and will require former enemies to put aside their differences and work closely to overcome scepticism, especially from Western powers whose financial support will be vital for recovery, Reuters news agency reported.

There is also a lot of duplicity on the Ministerial positions. It is difficult to split the hairs between the following ministries - Science and Technology; Media, information and Publicity and Information Communication technology. These three ministries’ functions are relatively similar swelling the cabinet.

The following Ministries are also feared to be duplicating functions - Regional integration and international trade; Economic Planning and Investment Promotion; Small, Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development; Industry and Commerce as well as State Enterprises and Parastals.

This duplication could be curtailed by transforming some ministries into agencies or departments. Above all it is pomp and fanfare in Harare and other parts of the country as the news of the deal is received with great joy and celebration, opening a new chapter and direction to the Zimbabwean political, social and economic scenario.