political defections

Political Defections are they genuine?
By Chris Habeenzu
Zambia after every five years hold tripartite elections. It is during this period that the country's political arena is characterized by defections that sees people crossing from one political party to the other.
Some defections seem so genuine but alas are stage managed all aimed at deceiving political sympathizers. Would one be right to say it has become part of politicians to deceive or fool the electorate that they are gaining ground when actually not.
One would wonder whether this trend has worked or it is just a ploy for the people in the committees to deceive their superiors to splash more money. Just who is fooled between the political leaders or the supporters in this case?
Zambia is yet again this year heading for a general election and the political environment is slowly heating up with campaigns taking place way before an election date is announced.
In normal situation campaigns are supposed to take off after the dissolution of the parliament then cabinet and announcement of an election date. It is then that political parties know who their true members are other than that they risk campaigning and strategizing with enemies.
Of late Zambian politics has been characterized with political mudslinging especially between the Opposition Patriotic Front and the ruling MMD.
The two political parties have in the recent past been embroiled in heated character assassination all aimed at discrediting each other.
This has been done at the expense of issue based campaigns and this has not helped the country at all.
Character assassination become rampant when defections are taking place.
In recent past Zambian politics have experienced defections of politicians especially members of parliament and councilors all aimed at securing their positions during this year.
So are political defections genuine?