Masvingo Diocese Brief History

The Diocese of Masvingo was established on the 24th of April 1999 when Gweru Diocese was subdivided into two Dioceses. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Masvingo, Rt. Rev Michael D. Bhasera, took canonical possession of the Diocese after previously laying the foundation of Gokwe Diocese from 1991 to 1999. The Diocese of Masvingo has an area of approximately 70,000 square kilometres and population of about 1,997,450 people, of these, about 241,126 are Catholics which is almost 12% of the total population.

The Catholic Diocese of Masvingo is located in the southern part of the country bordering South Africa and Mozambique. It comprises of eight civil districts, namely: Beitbridge, Bikita, Chivi, Gutu, Masvingo, Mwenezi, Zaka and Chiredzi. There are three main towns, namely Masvingo, Chiredzi, Beitbridge and Mpandawana. There are a number of growth points such as Mpandawana, Jerera, Nyika, Neshuro and Chivi. There are also semi-urban areas like Mashava, Ndanga, Triangle and Rutenga which falls under farming region five which has poor rains and hence poor crop production.

The Diocese is divided into nine (9) deaneries which are; Gutu, Lowveld, Masvingo, Zaka, Bikita, Southern, Mwenezi, Chivi and Masvingo South and sub-divided into 20 Missions and 9 Parishes.

The Catholic Diocese has sixty-seven (67) Priests, (65 Diocesan Priests and 2 OMI Priests). It has 2 Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The Diocese has Minor Seminarians, those who are in the pre-major Seminary and 24 Major Seminarians. It also have 61 Sisters of the Child Jesus, 16 Sisters of the Holy Cross and 2 Little Children of the Blessed Lady Sisters.

The Diocese is dedicated to Mary Queen of Peace as its Patroness and the shrine has been built at Gokomere mission which is celebrated yearly on the 22nd of August. At the Shrine there is a stone bell- a mystery that astounds many pilgrims.