He was born on 23 May 1938 at Uponera Village, Ulanga District in Morogoro Region in Tanzania.
He studied philosophy and Theology and was then ordained a priest of the diocese of Mahenge, Tanzania on 14 August 1965.
[1] On 14 June 1973 Pope Paul VI appointed him Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mahenge in the Ecclasiastical Province of Dar es Salam.
[1][2] Bishop Patrick Iteka is reported to have ordinated Salutaris Melchior Libena a priest of the diocese of Mahenge on 29 June 1991.
Father Salutaris Libena was later appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ifakara, Tanzania.