Toxic fumes at abandoned water treatment facilities and sewers have resulted in the fatalities of at least nine municipal workers in Zimbabwe, underscoring the nation’s governance challenges and the exodus of skilled professionals. Experts link these deaths to a failing state and low salaries pushing chemistry experts overseas, mainly to the UK and South Africa. Tonde Mombeshora, a chemist, highlights that these incidents are preventable, pointing to insufficient safety protocols and the lack of gas detection systems in facilities. Recent tragic incidents involve the deaths of technicians in Harare, Gweru, and Kadoma. Mombeshora stresses the importance of routine maintenance, adequate training, and safety gear to avoid these situations. Zimbabwe’s economic difficulties and shortage of skilled labor lead to inexperienced technicians managing dangerous environments. The outflow of technicians and scientists because of inadequate employment prospects further undermines the enforcement of safety standards. Mombeshora cautions that, without political will to enhance infrastructure, more lives are at risk. Inquiries directed to Harare’s mayor and Zimbabwe’s local government office received no response.