African Lakes

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The African Lakes Corporation plc (ALC) is a British company which operates businesses in Africa. 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 o hi hi hi f the Zambezi River and operated a number of steamboats on Lake Nyasa. It was renamed African Lakes Corporation in 1894. 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. 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.

Beginning in the 1980s, the company has moved into information technology. It has two lines of business, namely internet access (it acquired Africa Online and MenaNet in 2001) and information technology distribution. It operates in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, but the corporate head office is in London. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange, but it delisted in 2003 and is now a private company.

In May 2002 the entire Malawi automotive interests of African Lakes Corporation, Mandala Ltd (T/A Malital Ltd) were sold to the French Group CFAO SA (Formerly Compagnie Française de l'Afrique Occidentale)