IT is now more than 10 years since Cyclone Eline hit remote rural communities in the country leaving a trail of destruction on basic infrastructure but the pain it caused is still being felt in many parts of the country.
One such example still feeling the effects of the cyclone is Nyamashesha Primary School in Mhondoro and the surrounding villages.
On entering the school which has an enrolment of over 400 pupils one would think the destruction happened just yesterday yet many years have passed since the disaster hit the country. The appearance is simply because there has not been any reconstruction at the school and no one has come forward with any form of help.
As if that is not enough, the hailstorm that hit the area a few weeks ago further destroyed another classroom block and the school's storeroom.
The 2000 cyclone left most classroom blocks at the school roofless while furniture and stationery were also destroyed. To this day the schoolchildren have been left exposed to the ravages of the weather after the cyclone and many are learning while seating on the floor.
"We have not received any donation pertaining to reconstruction since 2000. We have approached the political leadership through our councillors and chiefs but nothing has materialised.
"To make matters worse, the cyclone came at a time when the country was going through a lot of challenges and no one came to our assistance," said acting school headmaster Mr Phillip Gava.
Mr Gava said apart from the destruction, the cyclone had affected the school's pass rate and many teachers were now shunning the school.
He said most pupils, who walk for long distances to school, have become accustomed to being educated in roofless classrooms.
"When it is raining, like now, there is no option but to accommodate over 400 children in four functioning classrooms. This means total disruption of lessons because it is impossible to conduct lessons in such an environment.
Teachers, who receive no incentives from parents, are afraid of teaching in rooms where roof trusses are still hanging precariously. In the end many shun the school and we end up with unqualified teachers," he said.
Pupils at the schools come from surrounding resettlement areas like Hanga, Chikonyora, Katsande and Karanda. He said the school dropout rate had also increased as children are opting to stay at home and help their families with household chores.
To make matters worse, the 10 teachers at the school share three houses available as the other houses were also destroyed by the cyclone. But remember, the teachers have their own families!
Their toilets were also washed away by the cyclone and Mr Gava said the teachers, together with their families, were having problems every morning.
"You have to wake up early if you want to be at school on time. Imagine, more than 20 people taking turns to bath in a single toilet," he said.
The impoverished community cannot afford to donate money for the school's repair.
Standing in for Chief Nherera, Mr Claudious Huchu said: "We are looking for well-wishers who can help reconstruct the school. As for stationery we got help from the Education Transition Fund last year."
"It is difficult for the community to offer a hand since most children are living with their grannies. Most of the pupils are orphans and assistance from the elderly is difficult because they are not employed."
Even the Chegutu Rural District Council, which built the school, has failed to offer any assistance to the school. The only assistance the school is getting is from a local non-governmental organisation - Destiny Manifestation International.
The organisation has provided children at the school with educational hampers, school uniforms and food during lunch break, a development the school headmaster said was luring back tens of pupils who had dropped out.
But with all this coming, there is still no money or equipment for reconstruction.
"There is no food in the homes and it was difficult to teach hungry pupils as most of them do not pay attention. Now, with the hand extended to us by Destiny many children are now trickling back and we hope many organisation will emulate and help these disadvantaged pupils."
Founder of the organisation Mrs Martha Mhangwa called on the corporate world to assist in rebuilding the school.
"We are trying by all means to keep the schools but funding is difficult to get. We are a non-profit-making organisation but our hope is to see the school operating at normal standards. Over 80 percent of the pupils come to school barefoot and this is another area which needs attention.
"We want to start incoming generating projects that will help the pupils and the school in general and we are fortunate the response we are getting from other stakeholders is pleasing," she said.
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Mrs Mhangwa said plans were also underway, with the help of political leaders and locals, to construct a community hall and a clinic in the area to save hundreds of villagers travelling for many kilometres to get medication.
The organisation also has a home-based care programme that is benefiting over 180 people and their dependants.
"I am HIV positive and talking from experience. I understand the problems which patients face and there is every reason to support the affected people.
"There is need to provide nutritious food to them because you can have antiretroviral drugs but without proper food you will not solve anything," she said.
Another representative from the organisation, Mrs Virginia Sibanda, said "investing" in education was vital for the development of the nation.
"A lot of development at the school is needed because the children's learning environment is not conducive. Remember we are talking about our future here and that is the reason why they need the best," she said.
