Cyclist Rejects 2-Plate Cooker, Demands Fair Prize at Choova Competition in Chipata

Cyclist Rejects 

Chipata, Zambia – July 28, 2025

Martha Daka, a resilient cyclist from Nyimba District, made headlines at the recent Choova Cycling Competition in Chipata after boldly rejecting her second-place prize—a 2-plate electric cooker—citing concerns over fairness and practicality.

Daka, who secured second place in the women’s category, was visibly dissatisfied when presented with the cooker. In contrast, winners in other categories received more practical and valuable prizes such as bicycles and motorbikes. Daka did not hesitate to question the disparity.

“I live in Nyimba, not Paris. We don’t have reliable electricity in my area, so what am I supposed to do with a cooker?” she remarked sharply, highlighting the mismatch between the prize and her living conditions.

Her sentiments were echoed by her spokesperson, Osward Mphande, who called out the organizers for the inconsistent prize distribution. “Unless the goal is to cook up some injustice, we need a proper explanation,” Mphande told reporters.

The protest sparked immediate discussions among event organizers. According to insiders, the organizing team did not anticipate backlash over the prize. “We didn’t expect her to question it. We thought she’d be excited to receive something shiny and domestic. That was a big misjudgment,” an anonymous source admitted.

Following what were described as “heated negotiations,” the organizers amended their decision. In addition to the electric cooker, Daka was awarded a bicycle, aligning her reward more closely with the other prize winners.

The development has earned Daka widespread praise on social media and in cycling circles, with many lauding her for standing up for fairness and practicality in prize distribution. While she now owns both a bicycle and a cooker, she jokingly remarked that the cooker remains unused—awaiting the arrival of stable ZESCO power in Nyimba.

This incident has ignited broader discussions on how prizes at rural events should reflect the realities of participants. As one attendee put it, “She didn’t just cycle to win—she cycled to be heard.”

Martha Daka’s stand serves as a powerful reminder that equitable recognition matters—and that sometimes, true victory lies not just in crossing the finish line, but in challenging the system afterward.