Glimmer of hope as reluctant Mbeki returns to Zimbabwe

• Former president is set to do what he had said was not going to be necessary

Tsvangirai becomes prime minister and chairs a council of ministers that supervises the cabinet.

Mr Mugabe will remain as president and chairman of the cabinet.

Mr Mugabe’s ZANU-PF will have 15 Cabinet seats, Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC 13 and a splinter MDC faction three seats.

The MDC wants to take control of ministries of home affairs in charge of the police and the finance ministry, giving it responsibility for rescuing the economy.

While the powerful state security ministry will be abolished, it is unclear how the secret police, a key instrument in maintaining Mugabe’s 28 year in power, will be integrated into the new government.

Although Mugabe is certain to use all his political wiles to retain as much influence as he can, there is no doubt that the agreement marks an unprecedented loss of authority for the veteran leader after 28 years in charge.

World powers, including the United States and Zimbabwe’s former colonial master Britain, are likely to hold back full endorsement of the power-sharing deal until they see the details and how it will work in practice.