OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

The sub-catchment is underlain predominantly by sandstones and conglomerates of the middle Zambezi basin;
these are covered by deep Kalahari Sands. Archaean rocks of the Central African Craton underlie the
headwaters of the sub-catchment.
3.7.1.3 Pedology, agriculture and land use
The soils are in two groups: the deeper ferralitic soils of the upper headwaters of the catchment, and Kalahari
Sands over most of the lower reaches of the sub-catchment. The predominance of Kalahari Sands makes the
area generally unsuitable for commercial agriculture, though subsistence agriculture occurs on floodplain levees
along the rivers.
3.7.1.4 Surface water users
The only settlements are small villages scattered throughout the sub-catchment. Prospecting teams in the subcatchment
uses small volumes of water. Small administrative centres are located near the town of Kalabo in
Zambia.
3.7.1.5 Water management systems
Most of this area falls under the management of the Angolan Department of Water Affairs, with the lower
portions of the catchment falling within the jurisdiction of the Zambian Department of Water Affairs (Barotseland)
office at Kalabo.
3.7.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)
The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:
• Disposal of domestic and solid waste from small communities; and
• Minor non-point impact from sparse, subsistence agriculture throughout the sub-catchment.
cii