Feature
Democracy run out
by Matt Nippert
Cricket boss Martin Sneddon makes a call on the Black Caps’ tour to Zimbabwe.
Another week, another rigged election. This time in Zimbab-we, where President Robert Mugabe’s party secured another five-year term in elections that the US State Department described as “seriously tainted”, and Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube called “rigged”. The result, however predictable, will force New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and our government to face difficult questions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff railed against the injustice of it in Parliament. “An environment of fear and intimidation and … widespread human rights violations” meant the poll was “neither free nor fair”. The results, he said, were invalid. “The election consequently is not accepted by New Zealand as reflecting a democratic mandate for [Mugabe].”
Even putting aside the forced redistribution of farmland, there is considerable evidence that corruption and mismanagement are having dire consequences for the people of Zimbabwe. UNICEF reports that the highest rise in infant mortality rates in the world since 1990 has occurred under Mugabe’s watch. Now almost one in 10 infants dies before the age of five.
With trade sanctions being token at best (bilateral trade totals less than $6m), pressure is about to go on the Black Caps, who are due to tour Zimbabwe in August. Co-leader of the Green Party Rod Donald thinks it is time to dust off the tactics used to bring down apartheid in South Africa.
“Actions speak louder than words. The government should turn their rhetoric into a request to New Zealand Cricket to cancel the tour. Until the inter-national community makes a stand against Mugabe he will continue his illegitimate dictatorship.”
Martin Sneddon, head of NZC, isn’t having a bar of it. “Would we cancel the tour on political grounds? The answer is no.” It is, he says, at least partly a financial issue. “We have a contract in place and a playing schedule. If we don’t meet it, there can be substantial penalties.” Besides, says Sneddon, making a call on politics isn’t the role of NZC. “It’s just too hard to make that judgment – that’s up to the government to decide, they’re in a far better position.”
But sports minister Trevor Mallard doesn’t quite see things that way. He says whether or not to tour is a “decision for the Black Caps. I don’t get involved in telling teams where they can or can’t go.”
Four months out from the tour, and the buck is already being passed. Donald calls for “Mallard and Sneddon to sit down, and make the right decision together, instead of playing one off against the other”.
Although he is not willing to can the tour, Sneddon says NZC will make the bold move of allowing cricketers to conscientiously object. “In cases where players are clearly and totally against touring a place, for whatever reason, we have tried to accommodate them.” He points to November 2003 as a precedent, where four players declined to tour Pakistan after being informed of potential terror attacks.
There will be no consequences for those who stay home, he says, adding a dig at Zimbabwean cricket, “We’re only looking at a short space of time for the tour – it’s not of earth-shattering importance.”
However, the introduction of politics, instead of safety concerns, as grounds for reasonable refusal is a whole new ball game. Ian Smith, broadcaster and former Black Caps wicket-keeper, says the Zimbabwe tour represents a “case of testing a whole new set of waters”.
After much soul-searching, the English cricket team went to Zimbabwe in late 2004, a contest described by the Guardian as the “most divisive tour in a generation”. English players were also given the opportunity to withdraw on political grounds, but the choice wasn’t entirely free. Cricinfo reported Darren Gough saying that the threat of up to $55m in penalties essentially forced players to tour to ensure that English cricket survived financially.
The Black Caps will also need to consider their careers and finances, says Smith. “Unless you’re a permanent member of the side” – and he put only Stephen Fleming, Hamish Marshall, Brendan McCullum and Daniel Vettori into this category – “you’re weighing up your moral beliefs with your income and permanency in the side.”
Fringe players may miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not playing in this instance, says Smith, “means someone else gets your chance”. Many cricketers will be wrestling with these issues soon. Black Caps hawk fudge and deodorant. Whether they are willing to stand up for democracy in Zimbabwe remains to be seen.
