Sculptor defends his Bingu statue: ‘This is a true reflection of Malawi ex-president’

April 5, 2019 Chem'bwana Nkolokosa –Nyasa Times 32 Comments

A South African sculptor behind the construction of former president late Bingu wa Mutharika’s statue who faced criticism has defended his work, saying that what she has made is a true reflection of the late president based on photographic information and approvals from government delegation and members of the family who supervised the works.

Bingu and his statue
The statue a true reflection of Bingu
A memorial service followed soon after the unveiling ceremony of Bingu statue erected at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe.
The statue for late President Bingu Wa Mutharika at Parliament Building in Lilongwe

Social media users have been querying the photos of the statue, saying it does not fully reflect what Bingu looked like.

The internet memes followed almost immediately the statue photos were circulating on social media.

But the sculptor, Jean Doyle said both the government delegation and members of the Mutharika family supervised his works in South Africa and gave their stamp of approval as the project progressed.

“They gave it the go-ahead. They liked what they saw,” said the sculptor in an interview with Nyasa Times.

The artist, who also constructed the statue of president Hastings Kamuzu Banda erected at Area 18 Memorial Tower in Lilongwe, said she is proud of what she has constructed.

After the unveiling of the statue by President Arthur Peter Mutharika in Lilongwe on Friday, many critics said the clear picture on the statue now looks a fair reflection of the country’s former leader.

Bingu’s statue is clearly depicting him with his signature gesture to the country that “let the works of my hands speak for me.”

The statue unveiling also marked seven years since the death of the former president.

Through his first term, from 2004 to 2009, the works of his hands spoke of great political and economic success.

All of a sudden, things changed in 2011 during the second year of his second term. – the usual final term curse for African leaders when the works of his hands spoke more of struggle than success.

Sources within government estimate that the statue will cost taxpayers in excess of K120 million, including travel expenses for government officials and family members who have been supervising the work.

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32 replies on “Sculptor defends his Bingu statue: ‘This is a true reflection of Malawi ex-president’”

  2. The maker of the statue together with all those supporting him either financially or by giving encouragement will sadly enter hell fire.A professor and his team of intellectuals stand b4 a statue giving all respect,it’s sad .I think politicians need spiritual deliverance .

  3. How can 18 million people from Malawi confirm that this is not a true representation of our beloved Bingu Statue and only One Southern Lady and a few corrupt officials from Government believe in this disfigured picture? your work will speak for you for ever.

    1. I am one of the 18 m Malawians and agree with the sculptor. Osamanamizila wandu iweeeee mxiiiooo

  5. It’s not completely off. In any case, I need better pictures of the statue before I can comment

  8. Ma government officials ndi aku banja amaona kutaya nthawi chifukwa amathamangira ku shopping malls to spend their allowances. They had no time checking the details. Kwa iwo amati bola chiboliboli.

  9. I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY CALLISTA DID NOT SHOW UP AT THIS FUNCTION. SURELY THE STATUE IS NOT OF HER LATE HUSBAND BINGU ” WAMUTHARIKA ” BUT PROBABLY IT IS FOR BINGU ” MUTHARIKA”

  10. The sculpture does indeed reflect Bingu’s narrative on determination, development and foresightedness.
    That’s Bingu alright: Chala m’mwamba – sky is the limit. And APM seems to follow the same mantra too.
    Winners write the first texts!

  11. Apa pasavute Bakili akapange supavaizi chiboliboli chake yekha chifukwa zotumila enazi eish kkkkkkkk. After all ndichiboliboli basi siyiyeyo ai.

  14. Inu musatiputsitse apa izi sindale koma kuona maso sikuti Binguyo mukamudziwa nokha?. This does not reflect Bingu.

  15. This is a waste of money on a man who had a fake PhD, entrenched tribalism, education quoter, and corruption. The new government after May elections should demolish the stupid statue

  18. If the picture used by sculptor is this one then she missed it. Check positioning of the left hand. Again supervision of family members and government does not guarantee that it looks the same as Bingu. Have you forgotten the syndrome of Malawians where they mostly get carried away with allowances and expensive hotels than doing the work they have travelled for. This is common with public servants. They might have travelled really to South Africa, but instead of spending time with sculptor they supervised for just few minutes and spent the other two weeks doing personal issues. Am told also the wife of the late president dint attend the unveiling ceremony, does this guarantee that she was part and parcel of the relatives supervising the works? I doubt. Probably because they politicized it within their relations that’s why they came up with a different face. The wife should have done a good job by advising that my late husband dint look like that

    1. Look at the tilt of the head in the photo and compare that with the statue. They don’t match

  21. Wapanga chosokonekela iweeeee komano zilibe kanthu zikhala choncho chifukwa palibe mbili yomakumbukila apa
    Good job

  22. spending more on the dead than the living – musoleum, statue – which economic development did this guy do in his eight year reign. In fact his ending was really bad. people celebrated his death. Now we are busy honouring him, after killing 18 people, chasowa, chasing away diplomats, torching people’s houses, stealing massively umboni wake ndi Cassablanca house and Ndata farm. Acquired much wealth just in 8 years

    3. 16 out of the 20 killed were thieves!!! some were carrying mattresses, some bales of sugar from shops they broke. Hiyaaaaaaaa

    1. History will never forget Bingu Wa muthalika , he was indeed a visionary leader i have never seen in my life time after Kamuzu Banda. may his soul continue resting in eternal peace . The dreamer was dead but dreams shall be there always .

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