Preparing for Joint MK-ZIPRA and MK-FRELIMO Campaigns June 1967
On 17 June 1967, in a little cottage situated on Dr Randeree’s plot in Lusaka, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Commanders, Lawrence Phokanoka, Gladstone Mose, Justice Mpanza, Theophilus Mkaliphi, Julius Maliba, Tony Malume and Lennon Milane were in the company of Moses Kotane and Joe Modise, with African National Congress (ANC) Acting President, Oliver Tambo addressing them.
Tambo was saying that they were going to be sent back to South Africa, and they will be assisted by ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People’s Union) members in entering Rhodesia. This was in line with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Liberation Committee’s Standing Committee on Defence’s resolution adopted in a meeting on 14 – 18 April 1967 in the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam. The resolution stemmed from the concern that “Nothing so far has been done by the A.N.C. in the form of an armed struggle”.
According to the report presented to the OAU Liberation Committee meeting, the ANC had requested a disbursement of material for the use of its personnel in East Africa, who were estimated to be around 300 militarily trained cadres. As a result, the report said that in the light of the organisation’s inactivity, the “Executive Secretariat considers that since their materials are not requested for the armed struggle in South Africa, it is not in a position to recommend the issuing of most of the materials requested by the Movemen
