Louisa Wall: We might have to live with tour

Commonwealth countries unanimously approved the Gleneagles Agreement in Scotland in 1977.

Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa.

They decreed that sport was an important means of developing and fostering understanding between all people of all countries and that sporting contacts between their nationals and countries practising apartheid in sport encouraged the belief that they condoned apartheid.

During the Springboks' ill-fated tour of New Zealand in 1981 rugby lovers said sport and politics did not mix.

The socially enlightened said that by allowing the tour and not voicing opposition to the oppressive regime in South Africa, New Zealand was, by default, a silent accomplice.

We may think we have reached a maturity as a nation but this country again seems divided - this time on the Black Caps cricket tour to Zimbabwe.

It is all a matter of perspective - about the role and importance of sport but also about levels of human rights abuses within the context of a system where the "black" and previously colonised full International Cricket Council members now have the power.

Seven of the 10 ICC members fit into that category and it is tough if you are Martin Snedden working with these numbers.

Sport is vital to New Zealand. We love it, we live it, and it has great value to us as a nation, not only socially but also economically.

So, do we want to host sporting world cup competitions? Stupid question I know ... so what are we prepared to forsake, then, regarding Zimbabwe? A lost cup bid, the fall of NZ Cricket? John Minto's call is not the way to create change. The National Bank is a proud and loyal sponsor not only of cricket but netball too and we need to support them at this time.

So, how can we help to meet the needs of people in Zimbabwe who are suffering from the decisions/abuse of their democratically (albeit contested) elected leader?

Not going on the Zimbabwe tour would involve litigation or paying compensation - and our ICC membership I am sure would be suspended until we paid our fines.

Politically, we have made the decision not to let Zimbabwe tour New Zealand later this year so NZ Cricket cannot be fined.

What will our action do to end the repressive regime in Zimbabwe and what will our non-action do to continue it?

As we found with the apartheid fight, this type of structural change takes time. South Africa had its first democratic elections in 1994.

We need another Gleneagles Agreement for human rights abuses, or a declaration from the United Nations. It would be interesting to read what other countries would/could also be included for human rights abuses on such a list.

Zimbabwe would not be alone.

Last year an African-Asian grouping shot down a draft resolution on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe for the second year at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The draft resolution, mooted by the European Union and supported by the United States, would have expressed "deep concern" at what it said were "continuing violations of human rights in Zimbabwe, in particular politically motivated violence, including killings, torture, sexual and other forms of violence against women, incidents of arbitrary arrest, restrictions on the independence of the judiciary, and restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression, association and assembly".

The proposed resolution also expressed concern over the "failure to allow independent civil society in Zimbabwe to operate without fear of harassment or intimidation" and "urged the Government of Zimbabwe to take all necessary measures to ensure that all human rights were promoted and protected".

Keep trying, EU and others.

This will ensure strategic and systemic action against Zimbabwe by all nations as opposed to just New Zealand and just cricket nations.

These questions and options won't be fully explored by next month so we might all have to live with the idea of New Zealand cricketers touring Zimbabwe.

Whatever eventuates we must remember who the real villain is.

It is not New Zealand Cricket, Martin Snedden, the National Bank or the players. It is Robert Mugabe and his regime. Lest we forget.

* Louisa Wall is a former New Zealand rugby and netball representative