The Black Caps may soon take over at the top of the test rankings for the most mercenary team in world cricket. New Zealand's bowlers and batsmen were almost the last guys out of Harare and the first guys back in.

Doubtless if Mr Mugabe fancies a few throw-downs, whilst taking a break from the hard work of torturing people, the head of New Zealand Cricket will hurry along, black cap in hand.

It may be the last act that Justin Vaughan performs before he retires as chief executive at the end of this month. Having described Zimbabwe as "dysfunctional" two years ago, Vaughan now appears to approve of a tour to a despotic country and has said he is not prepared to become involved in a political debate.

Why not? Where has all the "rage" gone? Thirty years ago many citizens of this country protested against the arrival of the Springboks.

Others defended the rights of the South Africans to play rugby. But at least people seemed to care. Is this country now so smug and sated at winning the Rugby World Cup that this week's test match in Zimbabwe is scarcely worth bothering about?

Are people not bothered that Mugabe slaughtered many of his own people with his North Korean-trained Praetorian guard? Are they not bothered by the man who denies food to regions who vote against him?

Are they not bothered by a mad dictator who allows a newspaper office to be bombed for printing a picture of piggy Napoleon (from Animal Farm) wearing Mugabe-style black horn-rimmed glasses?

I don't believe so for a minute, but the politicians are doing a good job of putting everyone to sleep.

Two years ago John Key blocked New Zealand's tour to Zimbabwe on security and health grounds and because he disapproved of the regime.

But in 2011 there is to be an election going on and, at times like these, politicians treat words like morality and human rights with a heavy dose of morphine.

You won't be hearing from Phil Goff on the subject either. He was Labour's foreign minister when New Zealand toured Zimbabwe in 2005. Is it any wonder that Goff and Key sit on the middle of the fence, when the reward seems to be lashings of power.

Goff and Key can look the other way, but Zimbabwe is still a basket case on and off the field. Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe's injured wicketkeeper and former captain, said on the eve of the tour: "I don't think much has changed. For example, the guys haven't been paid their match fees from August last year up to now. At the moment I am sitting here without a contract, no-one has got a contract."

Well, maybe Chris Harris has a contract. The former New Zealand all-rounder is coaching Zimbabwe's under-19s. He was pictured with a happy face on the front of The Dominion Post and gushed about beautiful and wonderful Africa and how safe it all was.

It probably is safe if you are prepared to be a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Tourist Board. New Zealand's team manager Mike Sandle was reported as saying: "We are happy to be in Zimbabwe. The people are very good at hospitality. This is a peaceful country with no security risk as in other places that we have had to go and play."

But it is not so safe if you disagree with the government. Harrison Nkomo, of Zimbabwe's Lawyers For Human Rights, said in June that his organisation had recorded nearly 900 abuses in the first half of the year. Nkomo rejected the idea that the country could hold free and fair elections.

Alec Muchadehama, another member of the group who recently received an international award from his legal peers, is scathing about the notion of progress in his country. He said that human rights were still being "trampled", "the rule of law was under attack", and that lawyers were routinely assaulted and tortured.

Muchadehama echoes Martin Luther King. He too dreams of rising, "from the dark and desolate valley". But he did not stipulate that a test series against New Zealand was likely to help him in his ascent.

Zimbabwe is a country where life expectancy has dropped from 60 to 42 in the previous 20 years. It is a country where the poorest in society are driven by government thugs from their slums. It is a country that exports cholera. It is a country where government opponents are tortured or killed.

Yet New Zealand's foreign minister Murray McCully, the scourge of that threat-to-world-peace Fiji, says it is all right for Zimbabwe to tour here next year. And New Zealand cricket will welcome them with open arms. You see, income is up 60 per cent and, fearful of the ICC, it has the 2015 World Cup hosting rights to protect.

Just where did all the "rage" go? We should be ashamed.

Mark Reason is an English sports writer now living in the Wairarapa.