AFRICA/TANZANIA - Erection of the diocese of Nzega and appointment of first bishop

Vatican City (Fides News Agency) - The Holy Father has erected the diocese of Nzega in Tanzania, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Tabora, making it a suffragan of the latter.
At the same time, he appointed the Reverend Joseph Mashaka Triphon, C.S.Sp., hitherto parish priest of the Cathedral of Bagamoyo, as first bishop of the newly-erected diocese.
Msgr. Joseph Mashaka Triphon, C.S.Sp., was born on 15 January 1962 in Tanzania. He studied philosophy at the Spiritan Missionary Seminary in Arusha, and theology at Tangaza College in Nairobi, Kenya, while undertaking a year of pastoral placement in Papua New Guinea.
On 1 October 1994, he made his perpetual vows and was ordained a priest on 27 May 1995.
After ordination, he first held the role of head of youth and school ministry for the French Province of the Spiritans (1995–2003). He studied religious studies at the University of Strasbourg, France (1996–1998), and went on to serve as treasurer of the East African Province of the Spiritans, at the Provincial House in Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania (2003–2010). He obtained a certificate in counselling from Lambeth College, London (2010–2012).
Upon returning to Tanzania he held the following offices: parish assistant at the parish of Virgin Mary Mother of Our Saviour in Kipawa, in the archdiocese of Dar es Salaam (2012-2016), director of the Libermann School in Kipawa (2012-2021), parish priest of Kipawa and dean of the deanery of Segerea (2016-2021), parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Kasumo, in the diocese of Kigoma; dean and vicar for religious (2021-2025), and parish priest of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the diocese of Bagamoyo (since 2025).
(EG) (Fides News Agency, 11/11/2026)