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SYDNEY, Friday (AFP) - Australia will go ahead with their planned tour of Zimbabwe, despite political unrest in the African country.

The world champions are scheduled to play Zimbabwe in two Tests and three limited overs internationals in April and May.

The current political situation in the country had prompted fears over the players' safety.

But the Australian Cricket Board is satisfied that Zimbabwe is safe for touring, even though the Australian foreign ministry has advised tourists to beware of the "increasing political tension and lawlessness".

The problems are expected to worsen before the March 9-10 presidential election, four weeks before the Australians arrive for their tour.

The British government has already moved against Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, warning it will push for the nation's suspension from the Commonwealth if the Mugabe regime does not address political violence and human rights violations.

Zimbabwe's government has thumbed its nose at Britain despite the threat of being removed from the 54-nation Commonwealth.

But the ACB is yet to hear of any reason its cricketers should not go to Zimbabwe after they end a two-month tour of South Africa.

"We have no reason to change our plans. We have a very good process in place for all tours," an ACB spokesman said Friday.

"We work with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the High Commission (embassy) and the home cricket union to determine the situation and we're certainly not planning to call the tour off.

"Our experience in the past has been that relying on media reports can be unreliable."

Three Australian officials have already visited Zimbabwe and approved the facilities for the tour, which includes a tour match in little-known KweKwe.

The African tour, comprising the South African and Zimbabwe legs, stretches for almost the length of an Ashes tour.

Steve Waugh's team leaves on February 14, with the last Test scheduled for May 2. 

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