Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube


Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube,, is a Zimbabwean Roman Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hwange, Zimbabwe since 2021. He was appointed bishop by Pope Francis on 5 July 2021. He was consecrated and installed there on 30 October 2021.

Background and education

He was born on 4 October 1973, at Nkayi, Matabeleland North, Archdiocese of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
He attended Mathetshaneni Primary School in Nkayi District. For his secondary school education, he attended Nkayi High School, graduating in 1992. In 1993 he entered the Mazowe Minor Seminary at Mazowe. He then transferred to the St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary at Chimanimani, in Manicaland Province. At Chimanimani, he studied philosophy. In 1995 he transferred to the Chishawasha Major Seminary, about east of Harare, where he completed his philosophy course in 1996. He continued with his study of theology at Chishawasha from 1997.
Later, in 2008, he graduated with a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Teresianum in Rome, Italy. Still later, he obtained a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the same university.

Priest

He was ordained a deacon on 9 July 2000 at Holy Spirit Parish in Nkulumane, in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo. On 3 February 2001 he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo on 3 February 2001 at St. Pius Parish in Njube. He served in that capacity until 5 July 2021.
As a priest, Monsignor Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube served in different roles in various locations including:
  • Assistant priest of Embakwe Mission in 2001.
  • Parish priest of Embakwe Mission Parish in 2001.
  • Spiritual Director for the Youth in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo from 2001 until 2003.
  • Spiritual Director for the Minor Seminary in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo from 2001 until 2003.
  • Rector of the Minor Seminary in Bulawayo from 2003 until 2005.
  • Parish priest of St. Adolf Parish from 2003 until 2005.
  • Parish priest of St. Bernard's Parish in 2005.
  • Spiritual Director at St. Augustine Seminary in Bulawayo
  • Spiritual Director at Chishawasha Major Seminary in Harare.

As bishop

On 5 July 2021, Pope Francis appointed Reverend Father Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hwange in Zimbabwe. He was consecrated and installed at the Hwange Colliery Stadium, in Hwange, Diocese of Hwange on 30 October 2021. The Principal Consecrator was Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil, Archbishop of Bulawayo assisted by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Titular Archbishop of Mesembria and Bishop José Alberto Serrano Antón, Bishop Emeritus of Hwange.