The Daily News (Harare)
Tendai Madinah
12 February 2003
TOP Zimbabwe cricketers, Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, have checked out of the national team hotel in Harare for security reasons.
Olonga yesterday said they were now staying at their homes following their scathing attack on the government's appalling human rights record and lack of democracy on Monday.
Olonga said: "For security reasons we checked out of the hotel the night before the Namibia match." The first black cricketer to represent Zimbabwe, Olonga said he would not stay at the hotel again for the rest of the cricket World Cup games.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to play England, India, Pakistan and Australia in their remaining matches.
On Monday, Zimbabwe beat Namibia by 86 runs in their opener at Harare Sports Club. Olonga and Flower, a veteran batsman, wore black armbands during the match, saying they were mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe.
Olonga yesterday said he had not received any negative comments about the statement they issued but their decision to move out of the hotel was a precautionary measure. He said many people had phoned him saying they were behind them.
Olonga said it was, however, possible that there could be some who have been disappointed by their move and might harbour other ideas.
But the two players trained with the rest of the players yesterday and Olonga said they would continue to do so.
He said: "The reason we released the statement is that we believe its time people begin to stand up for what is right."
Olonga said their enthusiasm for the World Cup matches had not been affected and stressed that what they did was "deeply personal."
He said their relations with other players still remained the same as they made it clear to them that they were expressing their feelings and they did not attempt to force their team-mates to join sides with them.
Olonga said: "It must come by conviction not coercion." Asked what had changed in a short period of time since he was part of the song Our Zimbabwe, the theme song for the World Cup, Olonga said: "The song Our Zimbabwe is a prophetic song. It speaks of the promised land, we are not there yet. The promised land has giants. They must be confronted."
No immediate comment could be obtained from Flower, who last year, was turning out for English county side, Essex.
But Olonga reiterated that they were together in this. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union yesterday said it would issue a statement when it was ready.
Meanwhile, Olonga, could face sanctions from his club Takashinga. Givemore Makoni, the chairman of the club, yesterday said Olonga violated club rules and the constitution by commenting on issues outside cricket.
Makoni said:"Olonga took a stand which the club obviously does not support. He violated the club's rules and constitution by making political statements. We obviously disassociate ourselves from his protest."
Makoni said the club's executive will meet "within a week" to deliberate on the case. He, however, would not say what sanctions the player could face if found guilty. He said there were several options, which he was not at liberty to disclose.
Makoni said: "We have not even spoken to Olonga. We still have to establish the authenticity of what he is said to have said.
"So, we do not want to make too many comments on the matter until he appears before the club to answer the charges being levelled against him."
Makoni said he was only talking on the issue to put paid to reports in the international media that the club had suspended Olonga.
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