Examinations Council of Zambia Director Michael Chilala has revealed that K 8,000 was paid to an artist that erected the statue that was recently pulled down after widespread public condemnation over its poor quality.
Mr Chilala said the Council paid 8,840 to a local artist who expressed interest in carrying out the work and the institution believed it was paying the right price for the pieces.
He said procurement for the art works followed the right procedures and there were no underhand methods.
“We followed the right procedures and we thought we were going to help citizens identify the ECZ entrance easily with the statue standing there but I guess the public felt otherwise and we listened. We are a public institution and we value the citizen’s views,” Mr Chilala said.
He however explained that the campaign to remove the statue was over blown saying the campaign initiator Mubita Nawa could have first engaged the Council before launching a social media campaign.
“As an institution, we have an open door policy, if Mr Nawa really felt strongly about the statue, we could have found a better way of engaging positively so that we move forward,” he said.
Mr Chilala said the Council was concerned that the issue of the statue was beginning to overshadow some of the important development taking place at the institution.
“We have major projects underway to modernize and improve exam management in this country but it is a pity that the public was being made to focus on the statue forgetting for instance that the ECZ just delivered successfully June GCE exams for the first time,” he said.
Mr Chilala said the Council has also significantly reduced the number of examination malpractices and introduced the use of ICT’s in examination management.
“Now you can see and verify your results via SMS just by simply sending a text on all the three networks. We have a new service centre to be commissioned by September in Woodlands as a way of improving customer services,” he said.
Mr Chilala further explained that the Council is also preparing to host the annual conference for the Association of African Education Assessors in Livingstone after which Zambia will assume the presidency.
Chilala, you were swindled by the artist. K8million you could have used it in arts competition in High schools, and you could have got better artwork.
And that of checking exams result by text message is a scam too, how much did you pay to those Cell phone companies?
All the rest is just business as usual, if that what you call development, then your people in the office don’t work, they are busy drinking maheu.
Iwe Nostradamus, you must have a sick or may be a very sick heard. Do you think you could do that for nothing. All your comments are usually lopsided. Where do you come from?
To him the statues where ok…? Leaders settle poor and shoddy work’s, now ECZ has lost K8000.
With PF mentality, he now blames Mubita.
A good director would have run a public competition for such sculptures
So can that swindler Nawa pay for the next statue please. He does nothing apart from chewing money from gullible teens.
Thanks ba Director. But will the money or at least part of it be recovered?
That shows there is a problem with your quality control and quality assurance standards as an institution. 8000 for that sub-standard work? Who approved the payment? Limbi alilyamo!!!!!!
Sticky For K8000 they deserve that crap they got. Only it is our taxpayers’ money
“We have major projects underway to modernize and improve exam management in this country but it is a pity that the public was being made to focus on the statue forgetting for instance that the ECZ just delivered successfully June GCE exams for the first time,” he said.
I like this response by the ECZ Director….Bo Nawa next topic you should bring up since you are motivational speaker and a “born again” Christian is the utter lies in the silly book called the Bible.
I’m happy that u listened, but let’s face facts; all these institutions (Ministries incl.) claiming to have an open door policy would ensure your inquiries/complaints fade as they travel the strenuous protocol pipes. You only get their attention when you go public. And if they say they followed the right procedures, 2 stages are missing in those procedures; publicised EOI and quality control. They have clearly said one person expressed interest
That’s Good stuff from ECZ. Dont throw those sculptures away BUT and try and sell them in Europe and I know you can BIG money for them!
The problem is that Zambians are so backward and DON’T know the real value of ART! That Nawa ID.IOT is just an AR.SEWHORE with a twisted mind.
In fact K8,000 is peanuts or nothing for those monuments!! No doubt those same sculptures can fetch much much more at the Albert and Victoria Museum in London! Speak to the right people in the Arts orgainsations both in Zambia or abroad and see what you get!
Chibomba are you dreaming?
Unfortunately, here at ECZ, quality begins and ends with the Diector, Mr.Chilala. He should just return K8,000 he shared with his fake nephew artist. This is just a tip of an ice berg of a lot of irregularities happening at ECZ. We want our money back for ECZ is a public institution.
@chakalle:
You will DIE with your jelouses! Just tell us more about your so called “irregularities” if there are any!! You are failure in your life. Go to school so that you can get a real job OTHEWISE you DIE with yoour LUST and ENVY!!
How come Mr Chilala is not mentioned in the Family Forest of the W.a.t.c.h.dog?
The Director himself paid the fake artist??? I smell a rat in this matter. Where was the institution accountant or finance manager? It is in the public that Mr. Chilala is a very corrupt man. Where is ACC to investigate this man and his institution??? Please we want our K8000 back.
The K8000 went to his building projects in Chalala. He should be investigated thoroughly.
How come the Director of ECZ Mr Chilala has not been mentioned in the Watch Imbwa Family tree reloaded? Just an observation….
WHERE ON EARTH WOULD YOU GET A STATUE FOR £800? STATUES ARE LIKE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT- IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BED FOR INTERNATIONALLY AND ARE EXPENSIVE. YOU ARE TALKING OF A MINIMUM £150, 000.00 PAYMENT TO A SCULPTOR. YOU DO NOT THINK THE FREEDOM STATUE COST PEANUTS? THE SPONSORS SHOULD HAVE LOOKED FOR PEOPLE WHO DID THE FREEDOM STATUES, MPOSA MABWE STATUE IN KITWE, DAVID LIVINGSTONE IN LIVINGSTONE OR AT LEAST THE ONE WHO DID THE WOMAN FEEDING THE BABY IN NDOLA IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. IT IS BEING STUP!D AND UBWINAMUSHI TO JUST THINK THOSE THINGS ARE CHEAP AND YOU CAN JUST CALL ANYONE FROM THE STREET TO DO THE WORK. MULEIPUSHA NGA TAMWAISHIBA NGU CIMO BA OFFICER.
Very true. Its because African society in general underrates art that this industry doesn’t get off the ground. Moreover, those in Education are the ones who should know the value of an artist who went to school for three years to earn a living from the trade. I know many businesspeople that ask musicians to play for free or for a beer. If the Examinations Council thinks it should pay K8000 for a statue then we know why the nation has failed to reap from a country with such abundant talent!
Chibomba, behave! No those statues are not made by a classical artist or a real artist..for that matter! They are tasteless, a kid could do better with plasticine. The V&A in London would not buy those!
@Patriot Abroad:
That’s the problem – you are totaly ignorant of the Art Industry! You may be abroad but working as a cleaner on the Underground or a night shift supervisor in MacDonald! But you surely know nothing about Works of Arts!
I worked for the V&A for 12 years as an Art Analyst before moving to the Imperial. I can tell you in your face that you are speaking from acute jungle/village ignorance. Even DONATING those sculptures to the Dungeon can cover that cost 10 times the cost in the appreciation fees!
In 2002, at the V&A worse looking scupltures donated from Mozambique earned an appreciation fee of £10,000. We just spray waxed and polished them and today they form part of oustanding pieces of African Art! There many other pieces from Ghana, Nigeria, etc similar to…
CHIBOMBA, DIFFERENTIATE A SCULPTURE FOR EXHIBITION AND ONE THAT THE AUTHORITY WANT TO STAND ON A LONDON STREET. VICTORIA AND ALBERT (OR V&A) MEUSIUM IS A ARTS EXHIBITION CENTRE THAT DO EXHIBIT ANY ART FROM ANY PART OF THE WORLD. EVEN THEN LOOK AT THE ART DONE HERE (UK, EUROPE, ETC). YOU DON’T THINK THOSE PIECES COST K800, DO YOU. THOSE PIECE MOSTLY RANGE FROM £250, 000.00. THAT’S WHY THEY CAN NEVER BE STOLEN- BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY THE THIEF WOULD BE CAUGHT, NO MATTER WHAT. EVEN THE PLACE (KENSINGTON) AND BUILDING (V&A MEUSIUM) ONE WONDERS HOW MUCH WAS SPENT TO PUT UP SUCH A PLACE. YOU CAN NEVER COMPARE IT TO ANY OF ZAMBIA’S MEUSIUMS. IT’S MILLION TIMES A WONDER.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The objects were just ok. Thats how a typical bembaz look like.
Ati kupusa iwe kamuntu!
Do we have retards running ECZ, do we have to wait for the public cry to realise that the sculptures are not a good representation of the Zambian society. Honestly blaming Mubita won’t do here, they should not have been erected in the first place. Actually, the money paid for this shoddy work should be refunded and an audit of the entire council be conducted. Honestly what the director is claiming to be developmental projects should not shut anyone from pointing out the ECZ mistakes….. this is what corruption can get us. I am really disappointed. What is special about delivering the exams in June? Ok just to sum up there is no need for an apology.
@Downing Street;
You are just an empty headed Arse.whore! Who says every piece of Art represents Zambians? Is the Monument for David Livingstone reprsenting Zambians in an any form? Just shut your mouth and your Ar.se if you dont know anything about Art!!
Different works of art carrying or convey unique messages, say, of The struggle for independence; War; Hunger, Education Excellence, etc. Before work starts, you need to define the message and the analysts can come up with suggestions, etc. Lick my arse Chimbwi iwe!
Did they pay the money not knowing what they paid for or are these people so f00l1sh that they have to wait for the public to tell them if something is ugly or not? Same mentality we see when contracting key infrastructure. No sense of beauty at all. That’s why you will see some of the most beautiful houses in Zambia but getting there you will also see the ugliest roads on the planet.
Downing Street. Correct! Give the money back ! Honestly, how can an advanced people call that art. Criminal to pay even 1pence.
And how much did ECZ pay to breakdown the
se symbolic statues?
@Kay;
ECZ paid equivalent to 10 Ar.ses of Kay as removal costs!
Which RIGHT PROCEDURES were followed? Did ECZ involve professional artists to evaluate the quality of the contracted artist at every stage of the project, starting from design? This ECZ Director CHILALA must be fired…chipuba ichatulo sana, no wonder he was named Chilala. Does ECZ have professional artistic skills to assess the quality of an artist? They f.u.c.k.e.d up the project because there is no professional artist at ECZ. Even without professional art appreciation, for one to pass and allow such ugly statues to be erected infront of their office, what does that say about the quality of life in these ECZ chaps’ homes? They probably buy their home pots and sofas from the rubbish pits. It is annoying that entire adults can allow such deplorable quality to be erected. B.u.p.u.b.a.
If ECZ Director Michael Chilalilila Chilala is this dull, what does it say about the way examinations are being handled behind the closed doors and walls of that most important building in our national education sector! This chap should be fired, ne chinangwa chaibela.
@Mwembeshi:
Just shabby this sh.it in your stinking Ar.se! What do you know about Examinations you monkey!
Can you see how people fail to properly allocate resources. $1400 dollars for horrid statues. I bet that the walkway next to ECZ is a dusty path. Just by looking at the picture, that seems to be the case. Instead of spending money to have a clean brick walkway put up, they spend it on statues. Sense of aesthetics is seriously lacking. And to expect a nice statue for that amount is ludicrous.
Poor Chilala. He does not know the difference between an Artist and a Con-Artist.
No wonder it was terrible! You need no less than ZMK30,000 for the materials alone before artist fees for concept and creation. The correct amount for two sculptures would be anywhere in the range of ZMK60,000-80,000.
It is so unrealistic to imagine 2 statues for such an amount. Real statue cost a fortune. Young enterprenuers cannot be encouraged if such behaviours are promoted. If you need a e-class benz 2014 model, you need to have the available resources for it. So are the statues. That amount ECZ paid was not even enough to buy a plane ticket for a good foreign statue builder.
Let give a hand a aplause to the local talent who even did that much.
God bless Zambia