The Institute of Judicial Administration Lushoto (IJA) has got the fifth chairperson of the Governing Council, Hon. Dr. Mary Caroline Levira, a Court of Appeal Justice, succeeding Hon. Dr. Gerald Ndika, also a Court of Appeal Justice, who completed his six-year term of service on the Council.

Dr. Levira was appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, on the night of June 15, 2024, in a statement released by Chief Secretary Ambassador Dr. Moses Kusiluka.

Dr. Ndika was bid farewell by IJA management, staff, and Council members on May 13, 2024, and was awarded with different stuff to recognize his immense contributions to the IJA.

Hon. Dr. Levira will chair the Council for a three-year term in accordance with IJA regulations and may be reappointed by the President for another three-year term.

Hon. Dr. Levira was appointed to the High Court of Tanzania by the fourth President, Hon. Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, in August 2014. She was later appointed to the Court of Appeal by the late President Dr. John Magufuli in January 2019.

Dr. Levira becomes the fifth chairperson of the Council, following in the footsteps of the late Ambassador Paul Rupia, retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, retired Court of Appeal Judge John Mrosso, and Hon. Dr. Gerald Ndika.

On July 23, 2024, Hon. Dr. Levira visited IJA for the first time and held a session with the IJA Management team, members of the Researchers Academician and Allied Workers Union (RAAWU) Lushoto branch, and IJAWOSA LTD.

In her remarks, Hon. Dr. Levira pledged cooperation with IJA staff to ensure that the Institute’s mission and vision are realized.

“We will work together with the aim of ensuring that the Institute achieves its goals and even more. While we provide Judicial Training and Continuing Legal Education and Legal Studies in basic Certificate and Diploma in Law, we can also come up with other initiatives that can be implemented here to generate additional income,” said Hon. Justice Levira to the members.

She also commended the staff for their hard work and assured them that she would allocate sufficient time to ensure the Institute’s activities continue to be carried out effectively.