The African Lakes Company (ALC) was an early business operating in the from the 1880s in the area of Nyasaland, now Malawi. It was later absorbed by the British South Africa Company, and operated general stores known as Mandala, but in 1982 was re-registered as The African Lakes Corporation plc. It is often referred to as just "African Lakes".

The company was originally established as the Livingstonia Central Africa Company in 1877-78, headquartered in Glasgow and managed by John Moir and Frederick Moir . Their focus was on trade and transportation opportunities, both to make a profit and to develop European influence in the area. They establish trading posts at locations from Nyasaland down to the mouth of the Zambezi River and operated a number of steamboats on Lake Nyasa. It was renamed African Lakes Corporation in 1894 and later to "African Lakes Company".

A rail link established in 1908 reduced the importance of the steamers; company focussed on its Mandala stores, and established an automotive business Mandala Motors in 1924, which grew to include 11 countries in Africa.

Beginning in the 1980s, the company has moved into information technology, acquiring Africa Online and MenaNet in 2001.

Reference

• Owen J. M. Kalinga and Cynthia A. Crosby, Historical Dictionary of Malawi, 3rd ed. (Scarecrow Press, 2001) ISBN 0-8108-3481-2

External link

• African Lakes homepage