Archbishop of Mbeya
Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga was born on November 3, 1966, in the Bunda District, Musoma Region. From 1976 to 1982, he attended Mwenge Primary School in Vwawa. The following year (1983), he entered St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Kaengesa (Diocese of Sumbawanga) for the initial years of secondary education, which he continued after 1986 at Sangu Secondary School in Mbeya. In 1989, he entered the Kibosho Major Seminary (Philosophy), and in 1991, he continued his theological studies at St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary in Dar es Salaam. Ordained a priest on July 11, 1996, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Mbeya. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1996–1998: Parochial Vicar in Itumba, Diocesan Scout Director, and simultaneously a teacher at Mbalizi Junior Seminary, where he also served as Spiritual Director; 1998–2001: University studies in Education at the University of Dar es Salaam (SAUT), where he obtained a B.A.; during this period, he was appointed Regional Scout Commissioner for the Mbeya region; 2001–2006: Teacher at Pandahill Secondary School and Headmaster of the same institution; 2006–2009: Postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam, where he obtained an M.A.; since 2009: Assistant Lecturer at St. Augustine’s University of Tanzania (SAUT).