Horrors of Zimbabwe bring cricketing perspective

Derek van Rooyen has tasted the sharp edge of Zimbabwean politics.
The Paihia business owner lived in Zimbabwe until his farm in Chinoh was seized by the brutal government of dictator Robert Mugabe two-and-half years ago under the country's controversial land seizure programme that targeted white farmers.
"They pitched up at the gate on a Landrover with AK47s and said we were illegal immigrants on our farm," Mr van Rooyen said.
"They just dragged me off, paraded me around and took me to the local police station. The police are the worst criminals of them all."
Nearly three years on, Mr van Rooyen believes things are getting worse in his homeland. Since May 19, police in Zimbabwe have torched and bulldozed tens of thousands of shacks, street stalls and _ amid acute food shortages _ vegetable gardens planted by the urban poor.
The actions of the Zimbabwean Government have intensified debate over whether the New Zealand cricket team should call off a planned tour of the southern African nation.
Mr van Rooyen credits a local church minister with getting him out of the country safely.
"He would not leave (the police station) until he left with me. The senior guy at the station sympathised and let me go," he said. "He (the police officer) got in trouble for it."
Mr van Rooyen counts himself lucky to be alive, unlike a close friend.
"They cornered him in his garage and beat him to death in front of his children."
Mr van Rooyen, his wife Denise and their three daughters Sarah, Amanda and Jessica walked away from the farm to start a new life in New Zealand.
The couple had just paid off the mortgage on one 647-hectare block and were renting another farm of similar size. He said the farm was "a bread basket" in the area producing maize, grains, paprika, soya beans, wheat and he also farmed sheep.
"I used to produce 700 tonnes of maize, 160 tonnes of tobacco.
"Since we left if they produce five tonnes of maize it's a lot and if they produce two tonnes of tobacco it's a lot," Mr van Rooyen said.
"We employed 250 workers and we had a policy of building 12 three-bedroom homes every year for the workers.
"If they were achievers they were given the house."
After the seizure black workers on the farm were pinpointed as being white sympathisers and forced from their homes.
Wild animals including giraffes, zebras and antelope that lived on the farm were slaughtered for their meat.
He was disgusted with the new housing policy in Zimbabwe which had resulted in tens of thousands of shacks, street stalls being torched or bulldozed.
"It all proves a point. It wasn't about land. The world thinks it is about land. It's about his hunger for power and the tearing down of these houses has proved that. When he refers to trash he is referring opposition. I feel very sorry for those fellows left behind who don't have the money to get out. They are financial prisoners there."
Mr van Rooyen said many expatriate Zimbabweans could not understand why the world was not intervening.
"We all ask the question why is the world standing by and watching the fellow doing what he is doing. They were quick to go into Iraq but here we have the Saddam Hussein of Africa mutilating his own people. How can we just stand by and watch this?
"I pray that there is a change of Government. I pray (opposition leader) Morgan Tsvangirai gets in. While he is not qualified for the job he is a humble man willing to do the job."
He has mixed feelings about the Black Caps travelling to Zimbabwe for the test and felt that Mr Mugabe would probably benefit directly from any fine that had to be paid.
"We, as Zimbabweans, respect leadership. However, it does hurt us. We realise why they are going over because of the penalties involved. They should go as long as they kick their a---."