The Zombie Workforce: Why the Undead Punch the Clock

We tend to think of zombies as brain-eating monsters from Hollywood movies, but in the Copperbelt of Zambia, the zombie is something far more tragic: the ultimate unpaid laborer. In this episode, we decode the "Economic Logic" of witchcraft, exploring how rumors of zombie workers are actually a sophisticated critique of modern capitalism.

We discuss how the sudden, unexplained wealth of local businessmen in towns like Chambishi fuels accusations of "Satanism"—the belief that success comes from turning neighbors into mindless automatons to work the night shift. We also dive into the terrifying phenomenon of "penis snatching"—a mass panic where a simple handshake with a stranger is believed to steal a man's virility for profit.

Join us as we break down the "Zero-Sum Game" of the occult economy, where every Mercedes bought is believed to cost a human life, and explore why, in a world of invisible market forces, magic is the only explanation that makes sense.

Topics Covered:

1. The Zombie as Slave: Why the African zombie is a symbol of exhaustion, not horror.
2. The Chambishi Riots: The 2012 uprising against a businessman accused of harvesting locals.
3. Penis Snatching: How "transaction anxiety" in cities creates fears of physical theft.
4. Mami Wata: The spirit of globalization who offers wealth in exchange for fertility.