Economic Crisis Causes Job Loss in Africa

The global economic crisis has brought a decline in demand for many commodities, which has forced factories to close and caused people to lose their jobs.

A recent Washington Post article illustrates the problem with an example from Zambia: an Indian-owned copper mine near the town of Luanshya currently employs 12,000 people, and locals describe the town as "fully dependent" on it.  However, it's going to have to cut 1,100 jobs to reduce costs.  Other mines across the country have already closed.  People in other countries are feeling the same problem: decreases in demand for Botswana's diamonds, Chad's oil, and Tanzania's cotton are also forcing people out of jobs.