New voice calls for Zimbabwe tour halt

Human rights campaigner Judith Todd will take part in today's 'It's not just cricket' protest on Auckland's Queen St. Picture / Dean Purcell

Southern African human rights campaigner Judith Todd wants the Government to take decisive action to stop the Blacks Caps tour to Zimbabwe.

Ms Todd is the daughter of the New Zealand-born former Southern Rhodesia Prime Minister, Sir Garfield Todd.

"This is a time we can't afford to waver because every bit of pressure now may make a big difference," she said yesterday.

Granted New Zealand citizenship two years ago after she was stripped of her Zimbabwe citizenship, Ms Todd was sorry that this country had become caught up in the African nation's problems.

"It is just too awful that New Zealand Cricket and all those concerned are faced with this miserable situation,"she said.

"It is another example of the cancer spreading from [Zimbabwe President Robert] Mugabe affecting sport, the economy, Commonwealth - I'm just so sorry you have been affected."

Ms Todd, who lives in South Africa, said New Zealand boycotting the tour would be a powerful symbol.

"They [Mugabe's regime] control information almost totally now. The one thing they won't be able to hide is if New Zealand doesn't appear."

Along with exiled Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga, the country's first black test player, she will lead a protest against next month's tour along Auckland's Queen St today.

The march will take place only hours after the London meeting of the International Cricket Council and New Zealand's High Commissioner in London, Jonathan Hunt.

They will discuss what the Government would need to do to allow NZ Cricket to cancel the tour without facing financial penalties.

ICC chairman Ehsan Mani has given conflicting messages about what the Government would need to do. On Wednesday he said sporting sanctions or a clear directive would be enough, but a day later he said a tour could be called off only if it was made "illegal".

Rules around the ICC's future tours programme allow a team to be released from tour obligations because of any government action, including not granting approval, which made the trip "impossible" or illegal.

Protest organiser John Minto said thousands of people were expected.

Mr Minto said he was not optimistic that the meeting between Mr Hunt and the ICC would have a positive outcome.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald will also attend today's march.

* "It's Just Not Cricket" protest, 12pm, corner of Queen St and Customs St.