Zimbabwe tells England cricket team: safety is not guaranteed

The safety of cricket players and fans in Harare cannot be guaranteed, its mayor warned yesterday, after England decided to go ahead with its World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

Elias Mudzuri, who had supported hosting six of the World Cup matches in his city, reversed his position, saying he could no longer promise security because of the Zimbabwe government's failure to show restraint.

"The situation in Zimbabwe is ever-deteriorating and anything could happen to the cricketers and their fans," Mr Mudzuri said. Opposition civic groups fighting President Robert Mugabe's authoritarian regime also warned of "unpleasant" surprises awaiting the cricketers.

Tim Lamb, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, had said defiantly that his board would ignore British government advice and proceed with the Harare match on 13 February. The announcement was made at Lord's after the home of cricket had been invaded by protesters opposed to the Harare match. The group, led by the activist Peter Tatchell, barged past security officials, with placards saying "Bowl out killer Mugabe", "No cricket while Zimbabwe burns", and "Berlin 1936, Harare 2003". Mr Lamb was forced to move to another room. He said the decision of the board was unanimous. "We have not been elected to make decisions of a political nature," he said. "The Government haven't offered a penny of compensation, which we consider to be inequitable." But he left the door open. "I can assure you the ECB will not expect its players to go to Harare if there is any risk that there physical safety could be at risk."

Tensions are running high in Harare as Zimbabwe grapples with a threatened famine, soaring inflation, political violence and fuel shortages. Violent pro-Mugabe youths known as green bombers are causing chaos in the city as they try to control food queues in the capital, flushing out suspected opposition supporters.

More government opponents, including the mayor, were jailed at the weekend for assembling peacefully to discuss water problems in the city. Mr Mudzuri said he had now learnt that anything could happen. "How then can I stand up and guarantee the safety of these visitors? I can't do that."

Zimbabwe's civic groups, who have formed an umbrella group called Organised Resistance, have also promised widespread demonstrations during the World Cup matches to expose Mr Mugabe's brutality. A leader of the umbrella group, Lovemore Madhuku, said his group was calling for a national strike, which would prove to the cricket authorities that their decision to play cricket in Harare amid the struggle for democracy in the beleaguered country was insane.

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, has publicly urged the England cricketers not to travel to Harare. His party was accused by Zimbabwe police last night of fomenting a secret plot to disrupt the matches and embarrass Mr Mugabe's government. The police vowed to thwart any such plans.

World Cup organisers welcomed the England decision. The Australian team has come under similar pressure from its government. President Mugabe branded all Australians as criminals yesterday and described John Howard, the country's Prime Minister, as "a product of genetically modified criminals".