Anti-cricket tour march planned in Auckland

An Auckland group is organising a march on July 16 to protest against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Global Peace and Justice Auckland hopes several thousand people will go on the march, which will start at noon at the corner of Queen St and Customs St.

"We've had lots of people calling us saying they want to do something," said the organisation's spokesman, Mike Treen.

"[They] want an opportunity to express their feelings - make them public - that the cricket board is not representing the people of New Zealand."

Mr Treen said a broad range of groups would be invited to speak, including representatives of the Auckland Zimbabwean community who would wear black armbands on white clothing.

"It's the symbol Zimbabwean cricketers wore to express their warning for the death of democracy."

New Zealand Cricket has said it is contractually obligated to go ahead with a tour to Zimbabwe next month, despite strong opposition from the Government. Cancelling the tour would incur fines of millions of dollars.

Mr Treen believed that if NZC made the "noble gesture" of cancelling, it would make up the loss through the charity of others.

"If they appealed to the broader community, the business community, the Government, they'd more than make up their money.

"They just need to do the right thing and people will appreciate them for that."

Mr Treen said if the tour went ahead, the public backlash could jeopardise the future of cricket in New Zealand.

"NZC couldn't function without support from the schools, banks, major corporate sponsors and the Government. Do they really want to create a situation where all that is jeopardised? Bank sponsors are already getting nervous."

He said the Government should make a formal request to NZC "to cease and desist from their irresponsible behaviour".

Media and non-government organisations have heavily criticised the Zimbabwean Government for bulldozing homes and shelters, making 300,000 people homeless.

President Mugabe has said it is the first step in a long-term national housing scheme.