MDC leader will face national council vote on whether to endorse unity government
On Friday, Mr. Tsvangirai will face the Movement for Democratic Change's National Council which will vote on whether to endorse their leaders in a unity government.
In the new government, Mr. Mugabe will remain not only head of state but in charge of the army and secret service. Mr. Tsvangirai will share the home affairs ministry which control the police.
If the National Council supports Mr. Tsvangirai, parliament will then have to vote on a constitutional amendment to enable the unity government.
Mr. Tsvangirai is then likely to be sworn in on about February 6, along with two MDC deputy prime ministers, and then the cabinet almost equally divided between ZANU PF and the two factions of the MDC.
Unity government will write new constitution
The unity government, many analysts have said, was the only possible alternative considering the massive economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
The unity government will have to write a new constitution and the country will then face new elections in 18 months, at which point many believe, Mr. Mugabe, who will be 85 years old next month, will choose to retire.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's death toll from the cholera epidemic, caused by broken water and sewage systems has now hit 3,000, with more than 50,000 infected.