Oliver Tambo: The Spirit of Arusha is a Challenge to Us
(Closing speech by Oliver Tambo at the ANC Conference “Peoples of the World United Against Apartheid for a Democratic South Africa”, Arusha, 4 December 1987)
“The time has come for all of us to leave this friendly city which has been our home for a few days, and return to our respective theatres of struggle. The sadness we might feel at this parting is lessened by the knowledge that we leave as emissaries of a common cause, committed to energise all humanity everywhere to act against apartheid, for a democratic South Africa.
“We disperse and shall attack the apartheid enemy of all humankind on all fronts and from all corners of the globe. We shall conduct a concerted offensive because we will be proceeding from the common positions we have agreed at this historic Conference. We depart from the shores of this great African country enormously strengthened by all that happened here during this week which will go down as a watershed in the history of our struggle.
Apartheid is Death
“As we close our Conference, the dark clouds of war are gathered over the people of Botswana. Botha is marshalling his terror forces for murder and destruction directed against a people who are exemplary in their devotion to peace. It may be that some among us here we see for the last time because they have been targeted for assassination. It is certain that during the week we have been here, apartheid has murdered yet mo
