Samoan Women Leaders in Politics Progress on International Womens Day

Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa with the six FAST Party women election candidates.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 09 MARCH 2021: Two major events in the past two days underlined significant progress for Samoan women political leaders as the world celebrates the International Day for Women.

On Monday morning, before she was presented by the Lotofaga district to the Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST party, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa was a panellist in one of the events to celebrate the International Women’s Day at the National University of Samoa.

The panel explored this year’s theme, “Choose to Challenge” and discussed the barriers to Samoan women advancing in political participation and the solutions in overcoming these barriers in a male dominated society.

Then the next day, Tuesday 9 April 2021, Fiamē was unanimously elected as the FAST Party leader going into the general elections in exactly four weeks.

When asked about the significance of the two events to the celebration of the International Women’s Day, she said she feels the meaning of the theme made it easier for her to accept the party’s decision.

“As a woman and given the party’s decision to elect me as their leader, the theme encouraged me to take up the challenge of leading a political party,” said Fiamē.

When the FAST caucus presented their support for Fiamē to lead, she said she felt the courage to accept the trust and their belief in her.

Her appointment as a political leader could not come at a better time as women of all walks come together this week to celebrate their achievements, successes and hopes.

Coming from a paramount Tama Aiga family, Fiamē had the roles almost cut out for her.

“Last October, her Lotofaga constituency presented her unopposed for next month’s general elections. Then the political developments over the last six months, made leading a formidable political party against her former party a natural progression.”

A daughter of Samoa’s first Prime Minister, Fiamē Mata’afa Faumuina Mulinu’u 11, she was the first woman to be elected as Deputy Prime Minister for Samoa until she resigned last September on matters of principle.

She is no stranger to the leadership role. At a young age of 20 when she should be pursuing university studies, she was called to take the Fiamē title after her father passed suddenly in 1975. At twenty seven, she entered parliament and had served as a Minister of State and as Deputy Prime Minister when she resigned last September.

There are six women candidates competing for seats under the FAST party she leads. There are competing against twenty other women candidates competing for the remaining 48 seats – the highest number of women candidates so far for Samoa.

Fiamē is one of three candidates who are unopposed and the Electoral Commissioner should soon be announcing their being duly elected.

Fiamē is leading the FAST Party alongside the Deputy Leader, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi.