Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa

He was born on 21 June 1939 in Wedza District, Mashonaland East, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia. He attended Kutama Mission School, for his early education. He entered seminary in 1957, after overcoming initial parental resistance. Later in 1973 he graduated with a Diploma in Pastoral Theology from the Ggaba National Major Seminary in Ggaba, Kampala, Uganda. "He was ordained a priest in 1968, eleven years after joining the Seminary." ==Priest==

On 24 August 1968 he was ordained a priest of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at the Mount St. Mary's Mission, Wedza, in the Archdiocese of Salisbury. The ceremony was led by Archbishop Francis William Markall, Archbishop of Salisbury. He served in that capacity until 5 November 1981. As a priest, he worked in various roles in different locations including: • Priest at Makumbe Mission from 1969 until 1972. • Priest at St. Mary's Parish, Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe. • Spiritual Director of seminarians at Chishawasha Major Seminary near Harare. • Rector of Chishawasha Major Seminary. While there, he instructed Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Bishop Michael Dixon Bhasera, Bishop Martin Munyanyi and Bishop Xavier Munyongani among others. • Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Harare and a chaplain to the first African Mayor of Harare, Tizirai Gwata. ==Bishop==

On 5 November 1981 Pope John Paul II appointed him the Bishop of Mutare. He was ordained as the Bishop of Mutare and installed at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Mutare, in the Diocese of Mutare on 21 February 1982. The Principal Consecrator was Bishop Donal Raymond Lamont, Bishop Emeritus of Umtali assisted by Archbishop Patrick Fani Chakaipa, Archbishop of Salisbury and Bishop Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya, Bishop of Gwelo. He succeeded Bishop Donal Raymond Lamont, who resigned. Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa retired on 28 May 2016, three weeks shy of his 77th birthday. ==See also==