Records of the Centre Party, Rhodesia

Copies of policy documents, minutes, agendas, annual congress minutes, speeches, and press statements, 1968-1977.
* Policy documents, 1969-1977.
* Documents on procedure.
* Newsletters. Includes an almost complete run of the Centre Party Newsletter, January 1974 - June 1977.
* Speeches - by various leaders, 1968-1977.
* Minutes, agendas, etc. Includes a complete set of annual congress minutes 1969-1976.
* Elections.
* Other printed ephemera.
* Salisbury Division: includes agenda and minutes of Salisbury North branch meetings, February 1969 - January 1970.

Founded in 1968, it was a multiracial party opposed to the discriminatory policies of the country's Rhodesian Front-dominated white minority government. It dissolved in 1977.
The Centre Party was founded in 1968 when a group of white Rhodesians, many of whom had gone into opposition with Sir Edgar Whitehead, decided to regroup. The party was multiracial; and its initial policy included support for a nonracial qualified franchise, acceptance of the Land Apportionment Act, and the progressive elimination of obvious examples of racial discrimination. The Centre Party opposed to the discriminatory policies of the country's Rhodesian Front-dominated white minority government. It remained small and never had any white parliamentary representation, but it did draw on middle class black electoral support and in the 1970 election its African candidates received the largest share of African Roll votes. It was represented by seven black MPs but its support for the Pearce Commission proposals created considerable disillusionment among its African following, many of whom turned to the newly formed African National Council. The Centre Party dissolved in 1977 when it merged with the Rhodesia Party to form the National Unifying Force.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

Founded in 1968, it was a multiracial party opposed to the discriminatory policies of the country's Rhodesian Front-dominated white minority government. It dissolved in 1977.
The Centre Party was founded in 1968 when a group of white Rhodesians, many of whom had gone into opposition with Sir Edgar Whitehead, decided to regroup. The party was multiracial; and its initial policy included support for a nonracial qualified franchise, acceptance of the Land Apportionment Act, and the progressive elimination of obvious examples of racial discrimination. The Centre Party opposed to the discriminatory policies of the country's Rhodesian Front-dominated white minority government. It remained small and never had any white parliamentary representation, but it did draw on middle class black electoral support and in the 1970 election its African candidates received the largest share of African Roll votes. It was represented by seven black MPs but its support for the Pearce Commission proposals created considerable disillusionment among its African following, many of whom turned to the newly formed African National Council. The Centre Party dissolved in 1977 when it merged with the Rhodesia Party to form the National Unifying Force.

Further details are given in Accessions List 6/77.

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Further accruals are not expected.

Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library, University of London: Zimbabwe: Political Parties Material (GB 101 PP.ZW)

Published

GB 193