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

See Figure 3.6 (ZGS, 1999). The Chizarira Plateau is composed of Sijarira Group quartzites and associated
rocks. Karoo Supergroup sedimentary rocks underlie the remainder of the area.
3.26.1.3 Pedology, agriculture and land use
Soils in the sub-catchment can be divided into three groups:
• Very shallow, gravelly soils derived from Upper Karoo sediments and basalts;
• Moderately deep sandy soils derived from Lower Karoo sediments;
• Moderately deep kaolinitic sandy to loamy sand soils derived from Sijarira Group sediments (DRSS, 1979).
The sub-catchment lies generally within Natural Region V: low and erratic rainfall: below 650mm; the exception
is the Chizarira Plateau, which is in Natural Region III with higher rainfall and deeper soils (ZSG, 1997; Surveyor
General and AGRITEX, 1998).
Land use comprises the sparsely populated Manjolo and Siabuwa Communal Lands and Parks & Wildlife Land
and Forestry Commission Land43 (ZSG, 1998). Such farming as takes place is limited to livestock production
(especially goats) and a few drought resistant crops. The major settlement is Binga.
3.26.1.4 Surface water users
There is some consumption of water for small-scale agriculture in the Communal Lands, as well as extraction
for Binga Town. The other major use is tourism on Lake Kariba: boating, fishing and game viewing.
3.26.1.5 Water management systems
The area falls under the Gwayi Catchment Council of ZINWA.
3.26.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)
The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:
• Disposal of solid waste, Binga;
• Disposal of liquid effluent, Binga;
• Urban run off, Binga;
43 Chizarira National Park, Chete Safari Area and Sijarira and Kavira Forest Lands
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