Secessionist leader arrested in Caprivi controversy

Imasiku Mutangelwa, leader of a Zambian secessionist movement called the Barotse Patriotric Front (BPF) was detained on Friday and taken into Zambian custody a spokesman for the South African Department of Foreign Affairs told IRIN on Monday. Mutangelwa had sought refuge a week earlier at the South African High Commission in Lusaka following a separatist attack 2 August in neighbouring Namibia's northeast Caprivi Strip. "At this stage we have no new information except to confirm that he was taken into custody by the Zambian police," he said. The spokesman also confirmed media reports that the South African government had denied Mutangelwa's request for political asylum. "The decision was taken in light of the various international conventions which govern the issue of asylum," the spokesman said. He added that Zambian police had assured the South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Themba Thebete, that Imasiku would be safe. Media reports said the police had wanted to question Mutangelwa following the Caprivi attack.