COMMUNITY HISTORY OF KAMATIVI

The great Kamativi area in which both the mine and town are located is characterized by some hilly terrain with numerous valleys and swamps. Several small rivers run through the town, and the Gwayi river, which is a major feature in the province, flows past the south of Kamativi. According to oral history of the local BaTonga people, the towns name is related to its geographical state. The valleys form pools during the rainy season. One Tonga name for pool is “matibi”. The local people therefore named the area “ka-matibi” meaning a “small place of pools”.