Losena Salabula

Losena Tubanavau Salabula is a former Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister.

Losena Salabula
Minister of State
In office
May 2006 – 5 December 2006
Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for Laucala Open
In office
1 September 2001 – 5 December 2006
Preceded bySuruj Mati Nand
Succeeded byNone (Parliament disestablished)
Personal details
Political partySoqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Social Democratic Liberal Party

Salabula trained as a teacher, and later worked for the Pacific Concerns Research Centre.[1] She was first elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji in the Laucala Open Constituency as a Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua candidate in the 2001 Fijian general election.[1] She was subsequently appointed to the Cabinet as Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, and Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. In April 2002 she drew public condemnation by saying that incest and child abuse in Fiji was caused by women working overseas.[2] In April 2002 she called the Fiji Labour Party an anti-Fijian group intent on stealing land from indigenous Fijians.[3] In October 2002 she was criticised by the Auditor-General for blatantly disregarding procedures over use of funds.[4]

At the 2006 election, Salabula retained her seat by a mere 17 votes out of more than 15,000 votes cast.[5] She was subsequently appointed to Cabinet as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.[6] She lost her seat, and her ministerial position, following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.

In May 2007 she was detained by the Fijian military and threatened over her public statements.[7]

In the leadup to the 2014 Fijian general election she joined the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) and became leader of its women's committee.[8] She was named as a provisional SODELPA candidate,[9] but ultimately did not contest the 2014 election. She later served on the party's management board.[10] She was selected as a candidate for the 2022 Fijian general election,[11] but won only 60 votes.[12]

References
  1. "Salabula: Still undecided". Fiji Sun. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. "Outrage in Fiji over assist minister's comments on women". Radio New Zealand. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. "Fiji minister hits out at Labour Party". Radio New Zealand. 18 May 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. "Fiji minister under fire over administration of funds". Radio New Zealand. 9 October 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. "Recount in Fiji delays final result until Thursday". Radio New Zealand. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  6. "Honourable Losena T. Salabula MP". Parliament of Fiji. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  7. "SDL party member threatened by Fiji military". Radio New Zealand. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. "Salabula leads SODELPA Women's Committee". Fiji Sun. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  9. "SODELPA names 44 provisional candidates". Fiji Times. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  10. "5 MPs Before Board in Sodelpa Inquiry". Fiji Sun. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  11. "SODELPA announces 54 proposed candidates for the 2022 General Election". Fiji Village. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  12. "Losena Moce (311)". Fiji Elections Office. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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