Valasi Toogamaga Tafito
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Valasi Toogamaga Tafito | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 16 September 2025[a] | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Succeeded by | Vaʻaaoao Salumalo Alofipo |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Vaisigano No. 2 | |
| In office 9 April 2021 – 3 June 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Tapulesatele Mauteni Esera |
| Succeeded by | Motuopuaʻa Henny Papaliʻi |
| In office 26 April 1996 – 31 March 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Seve Ropati |
| Succeeded by | Motuopuaʻa Uifagasa Aisoli |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Human Rights Protection Party |
Valasi Luapitofanua Toogamaga Tafito Selesele is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a former leader of the Samoa National Democratic Party.[1][2]
Tafito was elected to the Fono as a candidate for the Samoan Democratic United Party in the 1996 Samoan general election. He was re-elected in 2001. In 2005 he was appointed party secretary.[3] He lost his seat at the 2006 election.
In August 2020 Tafito was unanimously elected leader of the Samoa National Democratic Party (SNDP).[1] Shortly afterwards the SNDP agreed an electoral alliance with the FAST party, which would see them run a single joint candidate in each electorate for the 2021 Samoan general election.[4] In October 2020 he was nominated as a candidate for FAST.[5] Preliminary results showed him winning his seat.[6]
On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Health in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[7] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[8]
In August 2021 Valasi announced that the government was considering establishing an inquiry into the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak.[9]
Prime Minister Mata‘afa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025.[10] Following the dissolution of parliament,[11] Tafito, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the Samoa Uniting Party (SUP).[12] During the 2025 snap election, Tafito lost his seat to independent Motuopuaʻa Henny Papaliʻi.[13] Tafito's tenure as a cabinet minister ended on 16 September, and Vaʻaaoao Salumalo Alofipo succeeded him as health minister.[14]
Papaliʻi resigned from parliament in January 2026 to join the FAST party, triggering a by-election in the Vaisigano 2 constituency.[15] Tafito, having left the SUP shortly before, decided to contest the by-election and was nominated as the candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party.[16]