By Tichaona Sibanda
30 June 2005

Almost a month after Zimbabwe's own version of the tsunami, which left thousands of homes destroyed and millions of lives shattered, victims of this man made disaster still cannot comprehend government's actions.

But among the ruins a resolve is growing; the person responsible for the clean-up operation will one day pay for his actions.

Within local communities and churches people are working tirelessly to restore the victims' self-esteem.

Pastor Albert Chatindo of the Methodist church in Bulawayo is worried the clean up operation has left scars that will be difficult to erase.

He said: 'The after-shocks of the operation are still being felt in the city. It will take time to heal the wounds inflicted on these poor people by their own government.'

He added: 'we have opened our doors to the victims of murambatsvina and at present we have over a thousand people under our care. It worries us a lot when these people say they no longer have the will to carry on with life.'

According to Sheba Dube, also of the Methodist church, there is still a long way to go but the will is strong and already the distance covered is great.

She said: 'At least the church and well wishers are helping, but we need more help, especially with medication, because most of the victims are people whose health is failing.'

She cited the case of Savy Maphosa, a grandmother taking care of four orphans all suffering from HIV, whose home in Makokoba was demolished.