Chester-le-Street will be the most northerly Test venue

Opponents of Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe have renewed a promise to target England's Test match against the African nation in the north-east of England in June.

Zimbabwe has been confirmed as England's opposition for the first five day test match to be held at Durham's Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street, between 5-9 June.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union says it has agreed to fulfill tour commitments from May to July, regardless of England's boycott of their World Cup fixture in Harare in February.

Alan Wilkinson, a Zimbabwean who is organiser of Stop The Tour pressure group, said they were "anti-Mugabe, not anti-cricket".

He said they would be handing out black armbands to people attending the match, and would be carrying out other peaceful activities which he refused to reveal.

Mr Wilkinson said: "Mugabe is a dictator and the patron of the cricket team, and he's in effect sending out his ambassadors.

'Views differ'

"The way he is treating people in Zimbabwe is atrocious, he is perpetrating human rights abuses, not just against white farmers but against people who voted for him 20 years ago."

He said: "Playing cricket is playing with Mugabe."

David Harker, chief executive of Durham County Cricket Club, said: "I do not agree that the Zimbabwe cricket team are Mugabe's ambassadors.

"Support for this match is not support for Mugabe. People have a right to protest but people also have a right to watch cricket.

"We are probably sympathetic to Mr Wilkinson and his views, but differ about how to go about it.

"We have no problems with black armbands, and this tour can give a voice to protest, but freedom of speech carries with it a responsibility."