This is in line with a political agreement signed on September 15, 2008, by Zanu-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) parties, which prescribes the drafting of a new constitution within the first 18 months of the formation of the unity government.
The political agreement stipulates that the establishment of the parliamentary committee should be executed within the first two months of the inception of the new government. April 13 is the deadline for such exercise.
The next stage shall be the convening of the all-stakeholders conference which should be within three months of the appointment of the Select Committee. This should end on July 13, 2009.
From then, the team shall embark on a four month consultation process after which the draft constitution shall be tabled to an all-stakeholders conference not later than February 13, 2010.
The draft constitution and the accompanying report shall be tabled in Parliament within a month of the second all stakeholders conference whose deadline shall be March 13, 2010.
There shall be subsequent debate on the draft constitution and the accompanying report concluded in Parliament within one month whose deadline shall be April 13, 2010.
The draft constitution emerging from Parliament shall be gazetted before the holding of a referendum which would be within three months of the conclusion of the debate. This shall be done between the period between April 13 and July 13, 2010.
If the draft constitution is approved by the referendum, it shall be gazetted within one month of the date of the referendum, that is between July 13 and August 13, 2010.
The draft constitution shall finally be introduced to Parliament not later than one month after the expiration of the period of 30 days from the date of its gazetting, that is October 12, 2010.
Currently, Zimbabwe is still using the Lancaster House Constitution negotiated between the rebel Rhodesian government of Ian Smith and the two liberation movements, Zanu-PF of Robert Mugabe and PF-Zapu led by the late Joshua Nkomo. It was signed in December 1979 leading to independence on April 18, 1980 and has since been amended a record 19 times.
The absence of a home grown constitution is seen as the cause of Zimbabwe's political paralysis that has seen the country grappling with the excesses of a long serving executive president with multiple terms of office.
Addressing journalists at Parliament Sunday afternoon, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Lovemore Moyo appealed for donor funding to see through the expensive process.
He said, "Let us all take this challenge head on and pool our resources together for the good of Zimbabweans.
"It is my fervent hope that development agencies and other foreign organisations will take as much interest, if not more, as they took in the challenges that our country has been facing and contribute financial and material resources in support of the work of the select committee."
He however declined to attach a figure to the process saying Parliament was still finalizing a budget for the select committee and its sub-committees.
The drafting of a new constitution is the first such process to be supported by Zimbabwe's two political rivals.
A 2000 draft constitution led by government was rejected by the Zimbabwean electorate after a vigorous campaign for its rejection by the MDC and civic society.
At its first meeting on Monday, March 30, 2009, the recently established parliamentary committee on standing rules and orders resolved to select the 25 member select committee that will see Zanu-PF and MDC both contributing nine of its parliamentarians to the committee.
The Arthur Mutambara-led MDC, the smaller of the two MDCs shall second three of its members with the chiefs appointing one member.
The remaining three MPs were appointed by presiding officers.
Members selected into the committee include, Flora Buka (Zanu-PF); Senator Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Chiefs Council; Amos Chibaya (MDC-T); Walter Chidakwa (Zanu-PF); Senator David Coltart (MDC-M);  Senator Gladys Gombani Dube (MDC-T); Joram Gumbo (Zanu- PF) and  Ian Kay (MDC-T).
The others are Martin Khumalo (Zanu-PF); Senator Dalumuzi Khumalo (MDC-M); Cephas Makuyana (MDC-M); Paul Mangwana (Zanu-PF); Evelyn Masaiti (MDC-T); Editor Matamisa (MDC-T); Senator Tambudzai Mohadi (Zanu-PF); Edward Tsholotsho Mkhosi (MDC-M); Olivia Muchena (Zanu-PF); Senator Monica Mutsvangwa (Zanu-PF); Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T); Senator Jabulani Ndlovu Ndlovu (MDC-T) and Brian Tshuma (MDC-T).
Those appointed by presiding officers are Senator Thokozani Mathuthu, Gift Chimanikire and Jessie Majome