The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

While Tabata’s presidency may have been regarded as a practical necessity, perhaps
even for a limited duration, the effect of this decision ‐ as fuzzy as it may have been ‐
was that Tabata embraced the position, and Sihlali was henceforth described as the
former president. The formal stage was now set for the embracing of presidentialism as
a means of promoting the objects of the movement. Not only was I.B. Tabata’s
biography of repression experiences and political leadership marshalled to foreground
descriptions of the movement, its statements and publications, but his writings were
also distributed and republished as the work of a president of a liberation movement in
the cause of the movement’s promotion. The promotion of Tabata as president became a
key focus in the work of establishing the organisation in exile, in continuing to petition
for recognition and in soliciting funds and material support. In order to advance its
cause, a viable and credible political movement required a convincing presidential
figure. In addition, the presidency gave Tabata more room to manoeuvre. Any influence
and authority he may have had in the movement that derived from his seniority now
had greater gravitas and formal executive power.
From October 1964, Tabata began to correspond with governments and potential
supporters as the president of the Unity Movement, as the organisation restyled the
projection of its leadership. By January 1965, ‘Unity Movement’ had been extended to
‘Unity Movement of South Africa –UMSA’, which made Tabata’s presidency seem more
commanding and official in the protocols of international relations. The movement’s
liaison with the Zambian government now carried presidential and even proto‐
governmental, quasi‐diplomatic authority. 182 His communication with Kwame
Nkrumah ‐ who had promised support for military training – took place on a president‐
Movement’, with APDUSA and SOYA listed as affiliates, along with “Other Professional, Civic and
Peasant Bodies”. See, for example, I.B. Tabata to Berta Green, Corresponding Secretary, ADC, 2 April
1965, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
182 See I.B. Tabata (President, Unity Movement and APDUSA), N Honono (President, AAC), L Mqotsi
(Joint Secretary, Unity Movement, General Secretary, APDUSA) and Miss J Gool (Chairman of the
Working Committee of the Unity Movement) to The President and the Cabinet of Zambia, Lusaka, 24
October 1964, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925. This letter served to “salute the President, the Cabinet,
the government and the People” of Zambia on their “great day of independence”.
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