It is not correct that former African National Congress (ANC) president Chief Albert Luthuli did not support the armed struggle against the oppressive apartheid government, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday evening.

"It cannot be correct to say that he did not support the armed struggle. Those who are saying that are distorting history," Zuma said during the fourtth memorial lecture for Luthuli, Africa's first Nobel Peace Prize winner, at Durban's International Convention Centre.

Zuma said that Luthuli led from the front and articulated the spirit of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the former ANC military wing. The name Umkhonto weSizwe had also come from Luthuli, Zuma said.

Zuma said that the ANC had made sure that the struggle was led responsibly.

"We could not have a situation where the leadership tailed behind the masses and did not lead. The armed struggle was a well-thought out programme," he said.

He said that Chief Luthuli was never meant to become the face of Umkhonto weSizwe.

"Comrade Nelson Mandela was then appointed to lead MK as its first Commander-in-Chief," he said.

Mandela had to report to Luthuli about the work done by Umkhonto weSizwe.

"Thus, he (Mandela) was arrested in Howick having gone to report to Luthuli," Zuma said.

The gathering was attended by government ministers, politicians such as Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, academics, traditional leaders and scores of other people.

Zuma described Luthuli as an indelible leader, saying that South Africans needed to ensure Luthuli's vision of a non-racial democratic society did not fail.

"Whatever we do, we must not fail his vision of non-racial democratic society," Zuma said.

Luthuli promoted relations between the ANC he led and other communities during the apartheid.

"He worked to ensure sound relations between Indian and African communities in Natal, sometimes under difficult conditions, given the apartheid divisions," said Zuma.

The character of the ANC as an all-inclusive, non-racial broad church that was accommodative to all ideological persuasions was a defining feature in Luthuli's presidency of the ANC, he said.

"It was during his period for example, that the relationship between communists and nationalists thrived within the congress movement," said Zuma.

Luthuli had promoted tolerance and co-existence and under his leadership, nobody felt out of place. He constantly emphasised the importance of international solidarity to end apartheid.

Zuma described Luthuli as a humble leader.

"He was known for his humility which was a source of his strength. For example, when he was approached for leadership in the ANC, he was reluctant as he felt that there were others more deserving," he said.

Zuma said that he wished people could learn about Luthuli. Positions in the ANC were now fiercely fought for and they even caused tensions ahead of elective conferences of the ruling party.

Luthuli was born in 1898 at the Solubisi Mission near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and he returned to his ancestral home at Groutville in 1908.

He was trained as a teacher at Edendale near Pietermaritzburg and he accepted the chieftaincy in Groutville.

Luthuli was elected Natal provincial president of the ANC in 1951. He was elected president general of the ANC in 1952 by overwhelming majority.

Luthuli held the position until 1958.

According to the booklet distributed during the lecture, Luthuli died in 1967 under mysterious circumstances