DIOCESE OF NIASSA
Diocese formed in 1978, a division of the Diocese of Lebombo.
No cathedral designated; Matangula identified as “cathedral centre”.
Arms registered with the Bureau of Heraldry under Certificate No 3194 dated 27 March 2001. The blazon reads:
Per fess wavy Or and Azure, in chief a dug-out issuant Brunâtre, seated therein a fisherman proper, vested about the loins Argent and holding pendant from a handline sable a fish Argent, in base three barrulets wavy of the last.
Brownell[1] writes: “This diocese, formerly part of the Diocese of Lebombo, serves the northern part of Mozambique, from the Zambezi River in the south to the Ruvuma River which separates Mozambique from Tanzania in the north.
“Membership of this vast diocese is concentrated on the shores of Lake Niassa (or Lake Malawi), where some 90% of the Christians are Anglican. This is largely as a result of the work of the Universities Mission to Central Africa a century ago.
“As a result of the civil war which afflicted Mozambique for some two decades, this diocese was not able to function normally for a long time.
“For two decades the arms of the Diocese of Lebombo served the Anglican Church throughout Mozambique.It was only in 1998, while attending the Lambeth Conference, that the Bishop of Niassa handed to the Metropolitan of the CPSA[2] a draft sketch inspired by Mark 1:15-20. This was refined by the State Herald[3] and colour was added.
“Formal application for the registratation of the arms was made in May 2000, and the arms were subsequently registered with the Bureau of Heraldry.”
Languages:
Like the Diocese of Lebombo, the Diocese of Niassa uses Portuguese as its lingua franca. Local dialects are also used.
Bishops:
The first Bishop of Niassa was Paulo Litumbo, consecrated in 1979, He was succeeded in 1985 by Paulo Manhique, who is still in office.
