OLIVER TAMBO: WE SHALL WIN

OLIVER TAMBO: WE SHALL WIN

(Extracts from a Joint Statement of the Liberation Movements to the Fifth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), held in Algiers from 13 to 16 September 1968, read by O.R. Tambo, Acting President-General of the African National Congress).

“The fact that Africa is faced with great and continuing problems is no reason to minimise in any way the success that have been achieved to the chagrin of our enemies.”

“The liberation movements and over thirty million oppressed Africans that they represent are at war. On the one side are the armies of white supremacy united in the unholy alliance of Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa. On the other are the liberation movements with their guerrilla forces which are bravely challenging the vastly equipped military machines of White supremacy which have the direct and indirect support of imperialist powers such as Britain, United States, France, West Germany, Japan and Belgium.”

“Intelligence groups have been set up in many countries: assassins, saboteurs and mercenaries are to be found wherever they can fish in trouble waters. Bribery and corruption of people through offers of aid, the enemy will not hesitate to use. We feel that more attentions should be paid to this aspect of South African aggression. A powerful propaganda campaign has been mounted by Radio South Africa and other agencies with the aim of denigrating the OAU and supporters of the liberation movement whilst praising to the skies those who are prepared to sell their soul for a mess of pottage.”

“A welcome development is the growing unity, co-operation and co-ordination of the struggles in countries that are still unliberated especially in Southern Africa. The unholy alliance of Portugal, South Africa and Rhodesia must be confronted by the united forces of liberation of Southern Africa and elsewhere in Africa. This is a perspective that we are energetically pursuing.”

“The aid and assistance needed in the war are considerable. And it not just a question of the volume which must be commensurated with the demands of the struggle. But more and more we are now confronted by the need for speed. The situation in the fighting zones is constantly changing. Africa must therefore find means to ensure that there are swift responses to requests for help and in the facilities provided. Delays and red-tape should not stand in the way of victory in the battles we are fighting.”

“Over thirty million Africans are not represented as states in the Assembly of the OAU. Our faith in the OAU rests in the justified belief that nothing, not even national or state interests will ever make Africa forget those oppressed Africans for one minute. If we did not believe this, we would not be here.”

“On our part, in the name of our people, we are determined to fight and make the kind of sacrifices which made revolutionary Algeria free and independent in a struggle against one of the world’s great powers. We shall carry on the fight no matter how long or difficult it may be. We shall win because Africa must be freed.”

– Oliver Tambo –
(OAU Assembly, Algiers,13 – 16 September 1968)

Source:
O.R. Tambo, “Joint Statement of the Liberation Movements to the Fifth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), held in Algiers from 13 to 16 September 1968”, Sechaba, Vol. 2, No. 12, December 1968.

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