In 1968, a group of white Rhodesians, many of whom were associated with opposition leader Sir Edgar Whitehead, decided to reorganize.

[1] Three years before the party's founding Rhodesia made its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom, and the country's unrecognized white minority government maintained power through strict requirements for voters that most blacks did not meet.

[2][3][4][5] The new party was multiracial, and its initial platform supported universal franchise for blacks, the proposed Land Apportionment Act, and the elimination of blatant examples of racial discrimination.

[2][4] Pat Bashford, the Centre Party's founder and leader, was strongly opposed to UDI, Prime Minister Ian Smith, and Rhodesian Front's racial policies.

[12] After receiving criticism for the congress's poor attendance, Bashford responded that he believed the Centre Party would be the future of liberalism in Rhodesia.

[8] In the run-up to the vote, the party had commissioned a professionally conducted public opinion survey, which found that the white population largely supported the new constitution, which would set up a republican form of government in Rhodesia.

[2] The Centre Party MPs elected in 1970 were: Edward Watunga (Harare), Lewis Ndhlovu (Insukamini), Lazarus Masenda (Mabvazuwa), Wening Moraka (Matojeni), Lwazi Mahlangu (Mpopoma), Ronnie Sadomba (Nemakonde), and Micah Bhebe (Ntshonalanga).

[2][8][13] The November 1971 issue of the party newspaper Centre-point devoted half its content to speculations by various writers on the prospects of a settlement.

[13] That year, Ian Smith asked Bashford for the Centre Party's support in appealing to the British government to implement the terms of his settlement proposal.

Bashford refused, due to the Rhodesian Front's continued racism, and because black African support for the proposal was low.

[2][8] The party's position on settlement was unpopular with black members, most of whom became disillusioned and turned their support toward the newly formed African National Council (ANC).

[10][14] Its founder Pat Bashford remarked in 1969 that "liberalism needed a home in Rhodesia and the Centre Party could provide it.

[2][3][4][14] The party opposed white minority government in Rhodesia and racial discrimination, and supported equality before the law and improved education for black citizens.