A power-sharing deal has finally been agreed in Zimbabwe. The full details will be announced over the course of the week, but some clues are starting to emerge.

The Zimbabwe Standard is reporting that, as expected President Mugabe will share power with Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister. Mugabe will continue to chair the Cabinet and Tsvangirai will be the vice-chair. However, there will also be a separate institution, the Council of Ministers, that will be chaired by the prime minister and will not include the president at all. The Council of Ministers will supervise the work of the Cabinet.

The necessary changes will be brought about by a constitutional amendment that will shortly go before parliament. In addition, an agreement has been reached to begin a process of constitutional reform. The process will result in a new constitution within 18 months.

These details are confirmed on the blog of David Coltart, an MDC senator.

In terms of semi-presidentialism, it is still possible that the constitutional amendment, never mind the new constitution, will result in a semi-presidential constitution. However, there is nothing in either of the reports about whether the Cabinet or the Council of Ministers, or both, will be responsible to the legislature. It would make sense, but there is no information yet.