The Catholic Diocese of Hwange has consecrated and reopened a historic mission on the busy Victoria Falls–Bulawayo highway, reviving a once-abandoned sacred site that served pilgrims and local Catholics for decades. The site, located in the Matetsi area between the town of Hwange and Victoria Falls city, is dedicated to Mary Queen of the Assumption and is intended as a stopover for motorists and travellers on one of Zimbabwe’s main tourist corridors.
Restoration of a spiritual waypoint
Bishop Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube of the Hwange Diocese led the consecration and said the mission is open as a place of prayer, healing and hospitality for anyone who wishes to stop. The revival follows years in which the site lay out of use, and was prompted, according to diocesan accounts, by demand from Catholics travelling the Victoria Falls Road.
“This Mission is open so that it becomes a place of prayer. Whoever wishes should come and pray ... The mission will serve not only the local community but also pilgrims travelling on the Victoria Falls Road,”
The mission’s reopening is linked with nearby devotional sites, including the Pandamatenga Marian Shrine a few kilometres away, and incorporates historical elements such as the tombs of early missionaries who were pioneers in the region.
Local leadership and pastoral care
In the wake of the consecration Bishop Ncube appointed Fr. Trust Luyando Mwembe as acting priest in charge. Fr. Mwembe is the dean of the newly formed Jambezi Deanery, to which the Mary Queen of the Assumption Mission now belongs. The diocese credited the Sacred Heart Jambezi Mission with a nurturing role in making the revival possible.
- Location: Matetsi area, between Hwange and Victoria Falls city
- Dedication: Mary Queen of the Assumption
- Leadership: Bishop Raphael Ncube; acting priest Fr. Trust Luyando Mwembe
- Support: Sacred Heart Jambezi Mission; proximity to Pandamatenga Marian Shrine
What the revival means for travellers and the community
The mission’s reopening offers a dedicated space for prayer, reflection and claims of healing for physical and mental ailments, according to the diocese. For motorists driving between Hwange and Victoria Falls — a stretch used both by local residents and international tourists visiting the falls — the renewed mission provides a formalised stopover beyond basic roadside amenities.
While the restored site is first and foremost a place of worship, its position on a major route underscores the intersection of spiritual life and regional travel infrastructure. The presence of missionary tombs on the site also frames the mission as a location of historical memory for the local Catholic community.
| Feature | Significance |
|---|---|
| Consecration | Formal reopening led by Bishop Ncube |
| Pastoral oversight | Fr. Mwembe appointed acting priest; part of Jambezi Deanery |
| Nearby devotions | Pandamatenga Marian Shrine (few kilometres away) |
The diocese characterised the development as a response to the faithful’s long-standing request for a place to pray while travelling on the Victoria Falls–Bulawayo Road. It also highlights the continuing role of church institutions in maintaining sites of local heritage and service along Zimbabwe’s travel corridors.
For travellers and local residents, the revived mission is likely to function as both a spiritual waypoint and a small anchor of community history amid ongoing movement along one of southern Africa’s better-known tourist routes.
