Media reports in the country quoted sources in the MDC party as saying they have endorsed the decision by its leader – Morgan Tsvangirai - to join the unity government. “The national executive committee has recommended that the party joins the inclusive government; the national council is expected to endorse that decision,” one of the sources said.

Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition are also said to have set up a joint committee to monitor a power-sharing pact, a sign that the political rivals could be close to implementing it.

"It is the first structure to be formed in terms of the global political agreement and demonstrates the commitment of the parties to ensure that what they agreed to does come to pass," South African mediator Sydney Mufamadi told Reuters.

Tsvangirai said on Wednesday that he was prepared to join the unity government provided some of the things as prosecution of his supporters were stopped. A
Southern African Development Community meeting which took place on Monday and lasted for about 14 hours, agreed that President Robert Mugabe and the MDC leader should form a new unity government.

According to SADC chairman, South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, the meeting also agreed that the two should share the key ministries equally.

This has been the hot debate among Mugabe and Tsvangirai ever since the power sharing deal was brokered by former South African president Thabo Mbeki in September. Motlanthe said all the parties agreed to go ahead with the implementation of the unity government.

It was reported that if all goes according to plan, Tsvangirai and other ministers should be sworn in by February 13.

AfricaNews reporter said MDC’s move to join the unity government would surely bring a flicker of hope to many Zimbabweans who have waited patiently for the power sharing deal which has suffered setbacks several times.

The unity government is expected to solve the southern African country’s various problems ranging from high prices of food and goods and the cholera outbreak which has killed over 3,000 people.

Meanwhile Motlanthe has said South Africa will help in rebuilding Zimbabwe which was once the mighty nation of Africa. He said once the unity government was formed next month, investors should come in quickly and take up a role of uplifting the country.