[Anglican Communion News Service] The Church of the Province of Tanzania has elected Jacob Chimeledya, bishop of Mpwapwa Diocese in Tanzania, as its new archbishop and primate.

The announcement was made after elections held during an extra-ordinary meeting convened by the General Synod of the province on Feb. 21.

“I am pleased to let you know that Jacob Chimeledya, the bishop of Mpwapwa, has been elected the archbishop of Tanzania,” said the Rev. Agripa Ndatila. “I hope that you will pray for him so that God can be with him in this [new] responsibility that he has been called for.”

Chimeledya takes over from the Most Rev. Valentino Mokiwa, who has been archbishop since February 2008.

He will be installed in May at a service to be held at the Anglican Cathedral in the Tanzanian capital, Dodoma.