Speaking at the annual Swapo central committee meeting over the weekend, Nujoma said: "As leaders we must ensure that we always promote inner-party and national unity, patriotism and solidarity among ourselves and rank and file".

"We must also embrace democratic norms and principles in our intentions, deeds and actions," he urged.

The expulsion from the Swapo Party of former Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu and his subsequent appeal against this move also featured at the Central Committee meeting, but it was referred back to the Politburo, which initially fired Nyamu, according to a Swapo insider.

However, Swapo Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni told The Namibian yesterday afternoon that "the Central Committee confirmed the earlier decision of the Politburo to expel Nyamu".

Nyamu was kicked out of Swapo by the party's Politburo in December 2005 after it was alleged he wanted to cause division in the party.

Nyamu's appeal against his expulsion was discussed at the monthly Politburo meeting in October and referred to the Central Committee meeting.

Nyamu's ministerial office was broken into at the end of 2004 and private notes taken from a drawer in his desk.

On that notepad, Nyamu had jotted down possible scenarios such as starting a new political party or having Cabinet Ministers resigning one by one.

At this weekend's meeting, party president Nujoma took a swipe at the media and criticised them for claiming the party was not united.

"I would like to dismiss the claims by some treacherous elements in concert with some local media claiming that Swapo is divided into factions.

It must be clearly understood that those who go around misleading the people that Swapo is divided are day-dreaming," Nujoma stated.

He urged all party members to "display a maximum sense of party discipline".

"Swapo must firmly act against members who smear its good name and reputation through corruption, unprofessional and unethical behaviour.

We must exercise discipline and respect of each other," he added.

In his closing statement yesterday, Nujoma did not disclose details of the issues that were discussed, except for saying that it was agreed to have a 50 per cent women's representation at the 2007 party congress.

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