An assistant Surveyor General based in Lusaka heads the branch.
The main responsibilities of this branch are as follows:
- National control surveys for mapping and cadastral use.
- Maintenance of survey records other than cadastral.
The major role of survey services is concerned with the advancing the National Surveying Control network. Survey control network, technically called the geodetic network is the basis for execution of cadastral and other surveys, including the production of topographic and thematic maps.
By statute, it is a requirement that all cadastral surveys are tied in to the national geodetic control network. The public attention is drawn to Section 15 of the Land Survey Regulations which states that "all surveys are to be based on trigonometric stations or reference marks wherever practicable, and shall be on such a system or projection as the Surveyor-General may direct".
It is a requirement that where survey control exists, the land surveyor, both Government and private, are urged not to avoid starting survey work from survey control points, by assuming arbitrary datum's (starting points) as this can leads to encroachments since the surveyor is not guided by the control points.