However, ZANU (PF) needed to affirm its support and demonstrate that it retained the confidence of the people that it was making genuine progress.

The white MPs in the previous Assembly, who had all started off as members of the Rhodesian Front (later renamed the Republican Front), had split over their reaction to the ZANU (PF) government with more than half resigning their membership in March 1982 to become Independents who partially supported ZANU (PF).

[1] In the delayed poll in Kariba constituency, two candidates were nominated: Kenneth Madzvanya Mano (PF-ZAPU) and Enos Mzombi Nkala (ZANU (PF)).

Ian Smith (CAZ, Bulawayo Central) was suspended from the Assembly for one year on 2 April 1987 over statements he had made in South Africa which were critical of the Mugabe government.

Twenty further members (including many of the former white MPs who were supportive of ZANU (PF)) were co-opted onto the House of Assembly to replace them.