Not many people get to play cricket for their country at age 19. But Henry Olonga was all that and more. He was the first black player on the Zimbabwean eleven.
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He was, and still is, the youngest test player ever to play for that country. He was known as the fastest bowler on the team.
But it was something else that shot Henry Olonga into the spotlight.
In 2003, Henry and team mate Andy Flower caught world attention when they came onto the field each wearing a black arm band to mourn the death of democracy under Robert Mugabe.
Before the match, they issued a joint statement in which they said: “We cannot in good conscience take to the field and ignore the fact that millions of our compatriots are starving, unemployed and oppressed…
“People have been murdered, raped, beaten and had their homes destroyed because of their beliefs… We pray that this small action may help to restore sanity and dignity to our nation.”
In doing this, Henry knew that his stand would very likely cost him his career, his homeland and possibly his life.
Sure enough, the death threats and arrest warrants came and Henry had to flee to South Africa.
To this day, Henry has not been able to return to his beloved Zimbabwe.
His courageous stand was no spur of the moment impulse.
"I saw the country desecrated by its rich and powerful leaders."
- Henry Olonga
In Henry’s own words: “One day I read a verse from the Bible and it said, ‘Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow’. And in the very same verse the Bible said, ‘Rebuke the oppressor’.
“The verse hit me between the eyes. I felt God was calling me to say something, to speak out against the oppressor. I saw the country desecrated by its rich and powerful leaders.
“I just felt I’ve got to speak out.”
Former Australian captain Ian Chapell says of Henry: “Courage comes in a lot of different forms in sport. You’ve got the courage of a batsman who faces up to fast bowling.
“But the courage to say, ‘I’m going to stand up to a leader who is notorious, I may never go back to my country, I may never see my parents again’, the courage to make that sort of decision, I can’t comprehend that.”
Henry Olonga is coming to Tamworth.
On Thursday, September 14, he will be the guest speaker at a men’s dinner at Calrossy auditorium, Brisbane Street campus. The meal will start at 6.30pm and cost $40. Registration by September 7 at St Peter’s office 6765 9304 or online at www.stpeterstamworth.org.au
This event is also a fundraiser for Syrian refugees through Anglican Aid.
