The party's politburo met on Tuesday night to discuss, among other things, expelling Kapia from the party but found that he had appealed against the decision by the 21-member Swapo body.

Last month, the politburo instructed Kapia, through Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, to resign from the National Assembly or face expulsion.

However, he defied the order, allegedly after he consulted one of the party's top leaders and was advised not to resign.

Two weeks ago, sources said, Kapia met with Nujoma and agreed to resign but made another U-turn and did not hand in his resignation.

Party sources said yesterday that Kapia wrote back to the Politburo to appeal against its decision.

They said the youth leader argued that he has yet to be found guilty of wrongdoing by a court of law regarding his involvement in the bungled Avid-SSC N$30 million investment.

He feels it is premature for the politburo to act against him.

Kapia's case has widened divisions among the top party leadership.

Sources said there are those who believe that the youth leader must resign because it is morally correct and will send a clear signal that Swapo intends to deal with corruption.

Others claim that "unpatriotic elements" remain unscathed in the party.

They cited as an example former Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu, who admitted in December that he put on paper thoughts about the possibility of forming another political party.

The notes, on four small pages, lay out two "options", apparently for those seen to have been close to former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.

However, the top leadership never acted publicly against Nyamu, who has since lost his place in the National Assembly but remains a politburo member.

Some party insiders admitted that there has been pressure on the top leaders to act.

"They just have to act, whether they like it or not.

It could reflect badly on the leaders if they don't," said one.

Constitutionally, the politburo deals with the expulsion of members while the Central Committee only deals with the expulsion of groups.

It is not clear which structure in the party deals with appeals.

Nujoma will this morning brief the media on Kapia's fate and announce any other decisions taken by Tuesday's politburo meeting.

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