Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church has appointed Father George Desmund Tambala as new bishop of the Zomba Diocese.

This has been disclosed in a Press statement from the Apostolic Nunciature in Malawi made available to FaceofMalawi.

According to the statement, Archbishop Thomas Msusa remains in-charge of the diocese until the bishop-elect ‘takes possession of the Episcopal See of Zomba’.

Tambala belongs to the Order of the Carmelite Discalced (OCD) and becomes the first priest from that Order in the country to be promoted to the high office of a bishop.

The position of bishop of Zomba Diocese fell vacant after Msusa was appointed to head the Archdiocese of Blantyre.

Meanwhile it is not known as to when consecration of the bishop-elect will take place.