Zimbabwe archbishop urges against New Zealand sports tour

Jun 30, 2005, 11:24 GMT

Wellington - The Catholic Archbishop of Zimbabwe urged New Zealand cricketers not to play in his country on Thursday as a political row broke out over the controversial tour.

Archbishop Pius Ncube told Radio New Zealand from Vatican City that every sanction possible must be used against Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe as a million people were now without shelter and tens of thousands may die of starvation.

"For the sake of respect of human life - which is the highest value anywhere on this planet - the New Zealand team would do well and honourably not to go to Zimbabwe," he said.

New Zealand's Labour Party government opposes the national cricket teams scheduled tour in August because of massive human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, but says it is powerless to stop it.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said New Zealand must fulfill its contractual obligation to tour or pay a 2 million U.S. dollar fine, which the government has ruled out paying.

The opposition conservative National Party decided at a parliamentary caucus meeting on Thursday that it would compensate New Zealand Cricket, the sports governing body, if it was fined for pulling out.

"I think it would be unfair on New Zealand Cricket to have them incur a major penalty on a point of principle which most New Zealanders feel very strongly," said party leader Don Brash.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff dubbed the offer "unwise", adding: "Dr. Brash is effectively promising to write a cheque to the Mugabe regime for the privilege of not touring his country."

He said the 2 million U.S. dollars was a minimum and added: "With all other foregone profits, including international television rights, the payment demanded could be tens of millions of dollars."

Goff accused Brash of undermining the governments claim that no payments should be made, adding: "No team should be compelled to tour a country in the midst of savage human rights abuses, and there should be no penalty for not doing so."

Both parties are bent on political point scoring ahead of a general election expected in September.

But they agreed that whoever won, Zimbabwe would be banned from making a planned return tour of New Zealand in December.