on the outflow of low price commodities, namely ores, timber, etc.
The estimated annual volume to be delivered to sea going ships will
amount to over 3 million tons.
The main channel of the transport system to be esta
blished will most certainly be the Zambezi River, the backbone of
this new "front of economic spread.
Intermediate transhipments can not be considered on
account of the low prices of the bulk of the goods to be exported.
Prom the foregoing it is clear that the study of the
Zambezi delta is mainly aimed at two targets:
Id - Channel linked to the sea, with the possibility of mantaining
depths from —24 to —27 feet.
1.2 - Adequate and sheltered area, in the interior of the river, for
manoeuvering and harbouring, with depths of *”33 feet.
PRELIMINARIES
2.1 - Collecting information
The M.P,P.Z, has been obtaining topo, photo, hydro, and
sedimentological data, along the fluvio-maritime course of the river,
so that it will be possible to draw a conclusion as to the actual
condition of the various arms arid bars of the Delta. As a result of
this study the location and final planning of the port facilities
will be attained. It is most desirable that the harbour should be
close to the sea, so as to avoid the double transhipment still oc
curring nowadays in the neighbouring harbourages, where only coastal
boats have access.
A complementary study of the River itself is being car
ried out in order to be able to regularize it for fluvial transporta
tion.
2.2 — Physiographic characteristics of the Delta
The Zambezi delta spreads for approximately 60 km,
along the Mozambique coast. It is connected from South to North with
the following bars: LUAUA, MILAMBE, . INHAMESSENGO, CUAMA, CATARINA,-
PAMBANE and CHINDE. The first four are not fit for navigation, since
they are linked to interior channels in an advanced stage of being
completely silted up.
The PAMBANE bar shows good conditions only for coastal
boats and its interior channel is narrow, shallow and hardly linked
to the Zambezi River.
