Diocese of

Mutare

Zimbabwe

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Mutare / Mutaren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Harare

Neighbouring Dioceses: Masvingo (↙), Harare (↖), Chimoio (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16)

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1953.02.02: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Umtali / Umtalien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Fort Victoria and Apostolic Vicariate of Salisbury)
1957.02.15: Promoted as Diocese of Umtali / Umtalien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Salisbury)
1982.06.25: Renamed as Diocese of Mutare / Mutaren(sis) (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: Bishop’s House, Drumfad, Marymount Road, Box 47, Mutare, Zimbabwe

Phone: (020) 62347

Present Prelates

Bishop (2016.05.28 – ...):

Bishop Paul Horan, O. Carm. (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mutare (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paul Horan, O. Carm. (63)
(2016.05.28 – ...)

Bishop of Mutare (Zimbabwe)

Ad unum cum Maria

Born:	1962.10.17 (Horan, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1997.06.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.08.27

Bishop of Mutare (Zimbabwe) (2016.05.28 – ...)

President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2022 – 2026.06.10)

Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa
(1982.06.25 – 2016.05.28)

Born:	1939.06.21 (Wedza, Zimbabwe)
Ordained Priest:	1968.08.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.02.21
Died:	2024.01.08 (Mutare, Zimbabwe † 84)

Priest of Salisbury (Zimbabwe) (1968.08.24 – 1981.11.05)

Bishop of Umtali (Zimbabwe) (1981.11.05 – 1982.06.25)

Bishop of Mutare (Zimbabwe) (1982.06.25 – 2016.05.28)

President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1987 – 1990)

President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1998 – 2002)

Bishops of Umtali (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa
(1981.11.05 – 1982.06.25)

(see above)

Bishop Donal Raymond Lamont, O. Carm.
(1957.02.15 – 1981.11.05)

Born:	1911.07.27 (Ballycastle, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1937.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.06.16
Died:	2003.08.14 (Terenure, Ireland † 92)

Prefect Apostolic of Umtali (Zimbabwe) (1953.02.06 – 1957.02.15)

Bishop of Umtali (Zimbabwe) (1957.02.15 – 1981.11.05)

President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1970 – 1972)

Prefects Apostolic of Umtali (Roman Rite)

Fr. Donal Raymond Lamont, O. Carm. (later Bishop)
(1953.02.06 – 1957.02.15)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Patrick Mumbure Mutume (1979.03.15 – 2017.02.08)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Mutare, Manicaland

Masvingo (↙), Harare (↖), Chimoio (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 32,200 km²

Population: 275,000 Catholics (10.0% of 2,749,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 31 parishes, 3 missions

Personnel: 83 priests (55 diocesan, 28 religious), 155 religious (36 brothers, 119 sisters), 25 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.08.04

© 2026 GCatholic.org