Olonga departs, his mission not accomplished

Zimbabwe exile Henry Olonga revealed to New Zealand Cricket boss Martin Snedden that he would take the Black Caps on tour in his home country if he were in New Zealand Cricket's position.

Mr Snedden said the admission came when the pair met last week, a disclosure that has upset Olonga, who believed the conversation was private.

"He's a really good, balanced guy. He said to me, if he was in my position he was in absolutely no doubt he'd be making the same decision that I'm making," said Mr Snedden.

Olonga, speaking after an anti-tour rally of 400 people in Auckland yesterday, conceded he "might have" said he would send the Black Caps in Mr Snedden's position but was "hazy" on details of the meeting.

Olonga left New Zealand last night after a week caught in a political maelstrom. His trip, funded by the Green Party, brought profile to the issue but has failed to stop the Black Caps from heading abroad, or forced Foreign Minister Phil Goff to take action to keep the team here.

He said a low point was the "hijacking" by Mr Goff of his visit to Parliament. He said he found himself swept along to a spin-doctored press conference, which appeared to be aimed at making the Government look good.

"There's a lot of double talk. If they [the Government] really want to find a way, they will," said the former Zimbabwean pace bowler.

Olonga's New Zealand visit ended with the march, during which he chatted to activist Judith Todd, daughter of New Zealand-born Sir Garfield Todd, former Prime Minister of Rhodesia and a member of the Zimbabwe independence movement.

It was the first time they had met. The conversation was about Zimbabwe, said Ms Todd. "We were saying how lucky we are to have these people organising an event such as this."

Ms Todd left the march for a private meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark at her Mt Eden electorate office. Olonga met Ms Clark earlier.

There were touching moments before and after the march as former Zimbabweans approached Olonga with their children, to tell him his paediatrician father Dr John Olonga - still in Zimbabwe - had treated their children.

Margo Jassat was able to tell Olonga his father had saved her daughter's life. "His dad's been a great man to my kids."

The march ended with speeches from organiser John Minto, Green Party leader Rod Donald, a song from Olonga and a fiery defence from Mr Goff on the government's position. He shouted down cries of "Goff, get off" to tell the crowd he would not degrade the human rights of New Zealanders to halt the tour and "I don't give a damn what you say to the contrary".

Mr Donald, after the march, said the Government should write a formal letter to NZ Cricket telling it not to go. He believed this would meet International Cricket Council rules for abandoning the tour.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY