[1] The result was the sixth straight landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which won 31 of the 34 elected seats.

A referendum on electoral reform had been held in 1987, and resulted in the creation of a Supervisor of Elections, which would be appointed by the government.

[3] The BNF went into the elections suffering from instability; Bathoen Gaseitsiwe resigned as party leader in 1985 after becoming head of the Customary Court of Appeal.

[3] The Botswana People's Party (BPP) lost its sole seat and would not regain parliamentary representation until the 2024 elections.

The High Court ruled in the BNF's favour, resulting in a by-election in June 1990 in which the BDP retained the seat.