| Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
| Valasi Toogamaga Tafito | |
| Office4: | Minister of Health |
| Primeminister4: | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Term Start4: | 24 May 2021 |
| Predecessor4: | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers |
| Constituency Mp5: | Vaisigano No. 2 |
| Parliament5: | Samoan |
| Term Start5: | 9 April 2021 |
| Predecessor5: | Tapulesatele Mauteni Esera |
| Term Start6: | 26 April 1996 |
| Term End6: | 31 March 2006 |
| Predecessor6: | Seve Ropati |
| Successor6: | Motuopuaa Uifagasa Aisoli |
| Party: | Samoan Democratic United Party Samoa National Democratic Party Tautua Samoa Party FAST |
Valasi Luapitofanua Toogamaga Tafito Selesele is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is 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 April 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]
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