{{short description|Papua New Guinea politician}} '''Benjamin Poponawa''' (born 28 January 1960) is a Papua New Guinea politician.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 | title=Nominations By Electorate | publisher=PNG Electoral Commission | accessdate=15 June 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712121652/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nominations.pdf?sfvrsn=0 | archive-date=12 July 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tambul-Nebilyer Open. He was initially elected as an independent, but immediately joined the then-governing National Alliance upon his election.

Poponawa first contested the 2002 general election, but was defeated by People's Democratic Movement candidate Mark Anis.<ref>Palme, Robert. "Wingti leads in WHP counting". ''Papua New Guinea Post-Courier'', June 27, 2002.</ref> He again contested the seat as an independent at the 2007 general election, and was successful despite having trailed for most of the count.<ref>"New MP for Tambul-Nebilyer". ''Papua New Guinea Post-Courier'', August 2, 2007.</ref> He immediately announced his intention to join the governing National Alliance.<ref>Gumuno, James Apa. "Poponawa unseats Anis, will join NA". ''The National'', August 2, 2007.</ref><ref>Kolo, Pearson. "NA camp on shaky grounds". ''Papua New Guinea Post-Courier'', August 3, 2007.</ref> He was subsequently named as Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance by Prime Minister Michael Somare.<ref>"Papua New Guinea premier names vice-ministers". ''BBC Monitoring Service: Asia-Pacific'', August 30, 2007.</ref>

In January 2012, he joined Don Polye's new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party.<ref>[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-24-04.htm "PNG’S DEFUNCT RULING PARTY REFORMS AS ‘T.H.E. PARTY’"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219195835/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-24-04.htm |date=2013-12-19 }}, ''The National'', 23 January 2012</ref> He left the party in May 2014.<ref>[http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/245025/resignations-en-masse-from-png-political-party "Resignations en masse from PNG political party"], Radio New Zealand International, 21 May 2014</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poponawa, Benjamin}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Category:People from the Western Highlands Province Category:National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea) politicians Category:Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party politicians

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