Penisimani Fifita
Penisimani Fifita in 2016
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
17 October 2016 – 16 January 2017
Prime MinisterʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded byFe’ao Vakatā
Succeeded byʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Minister of Education
In office
16 January 2017 – 10 October 2019
Preceded byʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Succeeded bySiaosi Sovaleni
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu 9
In office
27 November 2014 – 18 November 2021
Preceded byFalisi Tupou
Succeeded bySevenitini Toumoʻua
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands

Penisimani 'Epenisa Fifita is a Tongan politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.

Before entering politics Fifita worked as a teacher, lecturer, and a public servant for Tonga's Ministry of Internal Affairs.[1] He was first elected at the 2014 Tongan general election. He served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House,[2] and in October 2016 was made Minister of Internal Affairs.[3] In January 2017 he became Minister of Education.[4][5] He was re-elected at the 2017 election and retained his portfolio.[6] In 2018, he caused a public controversy by banning Tongan schoolgirls from playing rugby.[7][8]

Following the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva and his replacement by Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa in October 2019 he was not reappointed to Tuʻiʻonetoa's new Cabinet.[9]

He lost his seat in the 2021 Tongan general election.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Pacific Parliamentary Forum 2016: delegate bios". NZ Office of the Clerk. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Penisimani Fifita elected as New Whole House Committee Chair". Government of Tonga. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "Penisimani Fifita sworn in as new Minister in Parliament while Veivosa Taka becomes Chairman of the Whole House Committee". Tonga Broadcasting Corporation. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ministerial shake-up, Penisimani Fifita new Minister of Education". Loop Tonga. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Tonga Prime Minister Gives Up Education Ministerial Portfolio". Pacific Islands Report. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Prime Minister Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the Tongan king". Asia-Pacific Report. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Tongan ban on girls' rugby sparks outrage in sports community". NewsHub. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Tonga Education Minister Fifita refuses to back down on ban on girls boxing and playing rugby". PACNEWS. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ↑ ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.


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