By Br. Alfonce Kugwa

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has on 15 September 2023, appointed Rt. Rev. Bishop Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa, CSsR as the Bishop of Masvingo Diocese. Bishop Mupandasekwa has been at the helm of Chinhoyi Diocese since his episcopal ordination on 07 April 2018.

According to the press release shared by the Apostolic Nunciature in Zimbabwe, Pope Francis has also appointed Bishop Mupa to be the Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis for Chinhoyi Diocese pending the nomination of his successor.

“Today, 15 September 2023, The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed the Right Reverend Raymond Mupa, as Bishop of the Diocese of Masvingo.

At the same time, His Lordship has also been appointed Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Chinhoyi pending the nomination of a new Bishop,” read the press release.

Masvingo Diocese fell vacant after the resignation of Bishop Michael Dixon Bhasera on 19 July 2022 after serving the diocese for 23 years.

Bishop Mupandasekwa is the first black bishop of Chinhoyi Diocese. The first black African Redemptorist bishop in Zimbabwe, Africa and the whole Congregation of the Redemptorists. 

Currently, Bishop Mupandasekwa is the Vice President of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) and the ZCBC Chairman for the Seminary Commission and Seminary Board.

Bishop Mupandasekwa comes from Masvingo where he was born on 28 April 1970. He was ordained to priesthood in 2001.