By Derrick Silimina

As the first rays of light hit Kalumbila on the eve of the International Women’s Day, women from all walks of life have turned the district into the sporting heartbeat of North-Western Province.

In honor of the IWD 2026, Trident Foundation Limited has organised various sports including football, netball, and volleyball, with teams from different mining departments, the housing community, and the host community’s elderly women’s football team – Nkakas Bullets Football Club from Kisasa area is comprised of grandmothers aged 60 years and above demonstrated that age is no barrier to sports.

“In Kalumbila, we don’t retire; we just switch to a faster gear.” 67-year-old Febby Kakwata, Chairlady of Nkakas Bullets FC stated. “FQM Trident gave us the pitch, but our spirit gives the game its soul.”

The colorful event depicted inclusivity, allowing both experienced and novice players to participate as women from every walk of life including the market traders, the mine engineers in their reflective gear, the teachers, and the farmers among others all converged at the Trident football ground to celebrate their day in style.

FQM Trident reaffirmed its commitment to people’s wellness and social integration, noting the positive turnout and interactions among attendees.

“We are basically talking about putting people first, caring about the wellness of people as sports of course goes a long way in ensuring that we are all well and healthy,” said Trident Foundation Ltd Lead – Commercial and Administration Auxilia Kangwa.

Zambia joins the rest of the world in commemorating (IWD) 2026 and the adopted theme is “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” This theme emphasizes the need for actionable steps supported by government, traditional leaders, and civil society to create an enabling environment for women, ensuring their rights are realized in everyday life.