Vatican City — Pope John Paul II has appointed new bishops for the Catholic Church in Africa. He has also created additional dioceses.

Sources from the Vatican indicate that the Pope has appointed Rev. George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu of Zambia as new bishop for Chipata Diocese, situated in the eastern side of the country.

The 42-year-old Bishop was ordained a priest in 1985. He undertook theological and philosophical studies both in Zambia and Kenya.

He formerly served his diocese (Chipata) in various capacities, such as parish priest, rector of a minor seminary, as well as being the apostolic administrator for the diocese.

The Pope has also appointed Rev. Joachim Ntahondereya as new bishop for Muyinga Diocese in Burundi.

Until his new appointment, the Catholic clergyman has been a Parish priest and professor of moral theology at the major seminary of Gitega. The 49-year-old clergyman was ordained a priest in 1980.

At the same time, the Pope has appointed Nigerian Catholic clergyman, Rev Fr. Michael Apochi as new bishop for the diocese of Otukpo.

Born in 1960, the newly appointed bishop was ordained into priesthood in 1986. He has served as rector for both Makurdi and Joss seminaries.

Meanwhile the Pope has created new dioceses of Ache in Nigeria. This has been carved off from the larger archdiocese of Benin. The first bishop for the newly created diocese is Rev. Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia.

The head of the Catholic Church has also created a new diocese in Kenya. It is Nyahururu Diocese, curved off from a larger archdiocese of Nyeri in the country's Central Province.

He has subsequently appointed Rev Fr. Luigi Paiaro (68 years) of the Consolata Missionary Society, as its bishop.