Oliver Tambo's messages to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi were that:

- Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi should continue mobilising Inkatha and build up its strength and its viability. He said that the ANC was suffering because when it was operating in the country it was leadership-heavy and had not sufficiently developed grass root support structures.

- Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi should not rock the boat too much as he was valued where he was. Oliver Tambo said that no one in the ANC could do what Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was doing better than he was doing it.

- Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi should not form an alliance with Steve Biko as this would endanger his position.

Oliver Tambo constantly put pressure on Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's emissaries urging them to get Inkatha to desist from speaking against the armed struggle and the ANC's disinvestment and sanctions campaigns. He said he could understand why organisations in South Africa could not call for an armed struggle, but his minimum demand was that the ANC should not be criticised for making the armed struggle the primary means of liberating South Africa.