A LOCAL man who is a trustee in a Zimbabwean charity is appalled at the events happening in the country at the moment.

The Rev. Mike Keirle, pictured, is the chairman of the Just Children Foundation which helps to give children in Zimbabwe a better future. Mr Keirle said he believed that for things to change for the better in Zimbabwe, much more needs to be done by its neighbouring African states.

‘The nations which surround Zimbabwe are culpable in all of this mess. President Mbeki [the South African leader] should be ashamed of himself,’ he said.

After opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai decided to pull out of the forthcoming election, he has been seeking refuge at the Dutch Embassy for his own safety. Despite the fact that pulling out automatically gave Robert Mugabe victory, Mr Keirle still believes that Tsvangirai deserves credit.