During her diplomatic visit to Africa, Vice President Kamala Harris took a personal pause on Friday to visit the site of her maternal grandfather’s former home in Lusaka, where he served as an Indian public servant in the 1960s.
P.V. Gopalan worked on refugee resettlement with the newly independent Zambia government and lived at 16 Independence Ave., which Harris had visited as a child.
Although the original home is no longer standing, a White House official confirmed the location using plot numbers in public records and land surveys. Harris described the visit as “very special” and spoke fondly of her grandfather’s lasting influence on her life, particularly his belief in public service and fighting corruption.
The U.S. Embassy in Lusaka and Harris’ family members helped to identify the precise location of the home, which was confirmed by the Zambian Ministry of Lands through a public lands document from March 9, 1967.
Zambia has welcomed Harris’ connection to the country, as evidenced by signs that greeted her on the drive from the airport into the city.
