This is a practice that is not only a political patent, it goes beyond politics, and is also found in other spheres of any social institutions, but here we will restrain ourselves to the political arena. There has been a debate around the issue of floor-crossing in Botswana with traceable fear of reaching a conclusion, for possible fear of resultant commitment that might be required for the decision or conclusion that may be taken. Lack of conclusion on the matter seems to be the safest stance to the parties concerned since no one major political party has been free from 'free radicals' in floor-crossing. The party benefiting at that instance applauds the step taken by the particular individual and finds the opportunity to self-praise and at the same time pulling to pieces the party that the floor-crosser comes from. While on the other hand the losing party licks its wounds by brandishing the leaving member with any vile adjectives and nouns, which also serves as an attempt to pacifying its support base and as a means of brand maintenance.
But what could be the motivation for an individual to join a political party of choice in the first place, even going a step further to standing for primary elections for them to be voted into leadership at their desired level. Politicians who join any party of their choice based on the equation of personal gain are deceiving the voters and lack integrity, while on the other hand, a politician who joins a political party on the basis of ideals of the concerned party and their possible net effect on the service to the nation, is a principled and a politician of integrity. And to that, we want to convince ourselves that our politicians are of the latter.
