Michael Dixon Bhasera

{{Short description|Zimbabwean Roman Catholic prelate (born 1949)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

|type = Bishop

|honorific_prefix = The Most Reverend

|name = Michael Dixon Bhasera

|title = Bishop Emeritus of Masvingo, Zimbabwe

|image =

|church = Catholic Church

|archdiocese = Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo

|see = Masvingo

|appointed = 9 February 1999

|term_start = 9 February 1999

|term_end = 19 July 2022

|predecessor =

|successor = Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa

|other_post = Apostolic Administrator of Gweru, Zimbabwe (28 April 2012 - 15 June 2013) and (24 October 2017 - 24 October 2020)

|ordination = 19 August 1978

|ordinated_by =

|consecration = 19 October 1991

|consecrated_by = Francis Xavier Mugadzi

|cardinal =

|rank = Bishop

| birth_name = Michael Dixon Bhasera

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|11|11|df=y}}

|birth_place = Gutu, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

|death_date =

|death_place =

|motto =

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

| name= Michael Dixon Bhasera

| dipstyle=

| offstyle=His Lordship

| relstyle= Bishop

| image =

| image_size = 200px

}}

Michael Dixon Bhasera, (born 11 November 1949), is a Zimbabwean Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masvingo, Zimbabwe from 1999 until his resignation in 2022. Before that, from June 1991 until February 1999 he was Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gokwe, Zimbabwe. He served as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Gweru from April 2012 until

June 2013 and from October 2017 until October 2020. He was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II in 1991. He resigned from pastoral service on 19 July 2022 at the age of 72 years and 7 months of age. He lives on as Archbishop Emeritus of Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Background and priesthood

He was born on 11 November 1949, at Gutu, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. He studied both philosophy and theology before he was ordained a priest in August 1978.{{cite web| title=MicroData Summary for Bishop Michael Dixon Bhasera (born 11 November 1949), Bishop Emeritus of Masvingo |date=25 February 2024 | access-date=22 February 2025 |author=Davis M. Cheney |location=Kansas City | url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbhasera.html}}

Priest

He was ordained a priest on 19 August 1978. He served in that capacity until 17 June 1991.

As bishop

On 17 June 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Reverend Father Michael Dixon Bhasera as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gokwe in Zimbabwe. He was consecrated and installed at the Uganda Martyrs Church, Gokwe, in the Diocese of Gokwe on 19 October 1991. The Principal Consecrator was Bishop Francis Xavier Mugadzi, Bishop of Gweru assisted by Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, Titular Archbishop of Fidenae and Bishop Ignacio Prieto Vega, Bishop of Hwange. He served there in that capacity until 9 February 1999.{{cite web| url=https://jescom.org.zw/bishop-bhasera-resigns-as-bishop-of-masvingo/ |title=Bishop Bhasera Resigns As Bishop |work= Jesuits Southern Africa |date=19 July 2022 | author=Frashishiko Chikosi |access-date=22 February 2025 |location=Harare, Zimbabwe}}{{cite web| work=ACI Africa |date=19 July 2022 | url=https://www.aciafrica.org/news/6308/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-72-year-old-zimbabwean-bishop-appoints-caretaker |title=Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of 72-year-old Zimbabwean Bishop, Appoints Caretaker |author=Magdalene Kahiu |

access-date=22 February 2025 |location=Nairobi, Kenya}}

On 9 February 1999 the Holy Father created the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masvingo. The Pope appointed him as the pioneer bishop of the new Ordinary See. He served there in that capacity until 19 July 2022, when he resigned. While bishop at Masvingo, he served as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Gweru from April 2012 until June 2013 and from October 2017 until October 2020.