Matibi Mission was originally established in the early 1950s by a South African Full Gospel Church missionary, Mr Marurhie, who settled among Shangani-speaking communities in Mwenezi after initially living in Beitbridge. Assisted by a local resident, Mr Chauke, he founded a church, vocational training center for girls, and a formal school led by Mr Silaluke. As the mission grew, a clinic was built to serve the increasing population. Following Mr Marurhie’s death in 1962, the Catholic Church, led by Fr Englin Xavier of Berejena Mission, purchased the mission on 8 December 1962, transforming it from a Full Gospel Church mission into a Catholic Mission under Gweru Diocese.

In the early 1970s, Dominican Sisters—Sr Lioba and Sr Myer—arrived and relocated the clinic to its current site, expanding its capacity. With the arrival of Dr Ashwandan and Dr Alkoyo in 1982, support from Swiss donors (“Matibi Friends”) enabled the clinic’s development into a hospital in 1983. The Dominican Sisters served faithfully until 2009. The mission’s school, built in 1962, initially operated as an Upper Primary Boys Boarding School under Gweru Diocese, later becoming co-educational. It was led by heads such as Mr Chipwanya Bandu and Sr Homera Clara (SJI). The school closed in 1975 due to the liberation war, and a Home Craft center was opened in 1976 to train girls in domestic science and life skills, headed by Sr Gebhard.

After the formation of Masvingo Diocese in 1999, Matibi Mission continued to evolve. Recognizing the need for a nearby school for local children who walked long distances, Fr Raymond Mahefu applied for a new primary school. With approval from the Diocese and Ministry of Education, Matibi Primary School was officially opened in January 2013. Today, the mission stands as a center of faith, education, and healthcare, with a rich history of transformation from a small evangelical outpost to a thriving Catholic institution serving the Mwenezi community.