It is with a heavy heart that as the IIMBISA region we have learnt of the passing away of Rt. Rev. Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Mutare. He passed away on the 8th of January 2024 at Murambi Gardens Clinic in Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Bishop Alexio was born on the 21st of June 1939 and was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Markaal on 24 August 1968 at Mount St. Mary’s Mission in Wedza under the Archdiocese of Harare. He was appointed bishop of Umtali now known as Mutare in 1981 and was ordained as a bishop of Umtali in 1982 taking over from Bishop Donal Lamont his predecessor. He retired in 2016 and was succeeded by Bishop Paul Horan who is the current bishop of Mutare Diocese. Bishop Muchabaiwa died on 8 January 2024, at the age of 84.
As the IMBISA Region, we offer our condolences to the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference for the loss of one of their senior members and to the Catholic Diocese of Mutare we say we are united with you in these difficult moments. We pray that the soul of Bishop Alexio may rest in Eternal Peace.