By Nehanda Radio
Nottingham – Former Zimbabwean cricketer turned performer Henry Olonga has said he felt disowned by his own country when his citizenship was stripped away from him by law.
Olonga opened a can of worms recently after highlighting that he was no longer Zimbabwean during a recent broadcast with the BBC.
“I’m not Zimbabwean anymore in a pure sense,” Olonga said during the broadcast, while praising the support Zimbabwean fans showed their team at a recent Test match against England.
In a Facebook post, Olonga said he did not understand why there was outrage over his comments, given the fact that the country’s immigration laws had stripped him of his citizenship.
“I hear there is a fuss about my citizenship comments on the BBC. Much ado about nothing. Zimbabwe decided for me not the other way around.
“Seeing as Zimbabwe refused to ratify my citizenship when my passport expired in 2006, even after previously renouncing Kenya and Zambia (where I was born ).
“They first forced me to renounce all other options and then took the only one I had left away. They left me stateless for 9 years.
Olonga said while he would have loved to have remained Zimbabwean, the country’s authorities had ensured that this would not be the case.Wildlife safaris in Zimbabwe
“It was ultimately not my decision and would have happily remained a Zimbo. But I am a law abiding person so I am shut out by the rules. I am not allowed to be a dual national according to their rules so technically I am no longer Zimbabwean.Wildlife safaris in Zimbabwe
“I hope that clears it up so please familiarise yourselves with the facts before being so mean. Some people online ought to learn how to radiate good vibes – too much negativity and toxicity. Spread more love – the Almighty will be pleased.”
Olonga was born in Lusaka, Zambia. His father John Olonga was a Kenyan surgeon and his mother was Zimbabwean.
He has two sisters and two brothers as well as ten half-brothers and sisters from his father’s first marriage.
One of his brothers, Victor Olonga, played professional rugby and became captain of the Zimbabwe national team.
Olonga and his teammate Andy Flower achieved international recognition by wearing a black armband at the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa to “mourn the death of democracy” in Zimbabwe under the government led by Robert Mugabe.
The pair issued a statement to journalists at the Harare Sports Club in which they said; “In all the circumstances, we have decided that we will each wear a black armband for the duration of the World Cup.
In doing so we are mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe.
“In doing so we are making a silent plea to those responsible to stop the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. In doing so, we pray that our small action may help to restore sanity and dignity to our nation.”
Olonga was exiled from his homeland and faced death threats, fleeing to England and never playing for Zimbabwe again.
Although Olonga, now 48, began his exile in England, he moved to Australia nine years ago.
