A confrontation took place at Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in Bulawayo on Sunday between the family of the late Constable Cassandra Hove and senior police officers, as the family demanded answers and justice regarding her death.
Hove, a female detective involved in a police operation to apprehend armed robbers in Pumula South last Thursday, was shot in the chest and declared dead at a local clinic around 9 PM.
The funeral service, scheduled for 10 AM, was abruptly postponed due to heightened emotions among mourners and close family members, who confronted the police officers present.
The situation escalated when some family members verbally attacked the officers, accusing them of withholding the truth about Hove’s death.
The police claimed that Hove was not killed by the robbers but by one of her colleagues. The family demanded clarification on whether the shooting was an accident or intentional.
According to the police, Hove was shot in the upper limbs during an exchange of gunfire with robbers around 8:40 PM. She was rushed to a nearby private clinic, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The family also sought answers about the identities of the officers involved in the Pumula South raid, as well as the person who authorised Hove’s post-mortem.
They were shocked to discover that someone else had signed the hospital documents as Hove’s next of kin, and they claimed to have had no involvement in the process. Said a family member:
<blockquote>
There is something suspicious about all this. Why did the police rush to conduct a post-mortem without our consent or knowledge?
Why were they collecting bereavement monies without our knowledge? Where did that money go?
Also, why did the police notify us about her death hours after she had been killed? They also demanded her mobile phones and title deeds to the house for reasons best known to them.
</blockquote>
The family expressed their dissatisfaction with the police’s account of the events and vowed to continue seeking justice until those responsible were held accountable.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ryan Gambinga said they were deeply shocked and disturbed by the tragic circumstances surrounding Hove’s death. He said:
<blockquote>
While we initially received conflicting reports, our recent meeting with ZRP Bulawayo has confirmed that a fellow police officer, and not armed robbers, was involved in this devastating incident.
</blockquote>
The family clashed with the officers present until around 3 PM, when tensions eased after a closed-door meeting with several unidentified senior police officials. Said Gambinga:
<blockquote>
We decided to proceed with the service after meeting with the police. They assured us that they would launch a full investigation into the matter.
They gave us their highest assurance, and as a family, we decided to go ahead with the proceedings.
It is now up to them as the police to uphold their end of the bargain.
</blockquote>
Gambinga said the family was disappointed that those directly involved in the matter had failed to come forward, preventing the family from finding closure.
He also revealed that the late Hove had recently been awarded a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia. He said:
<blockquote>
We had sorted all her paperwork and were in the process of securing funds. This is truly a tragedy.
</blockquote>
Several police officers attended Hove’s emotional send-off, but none from the Criminal Investigations Department’s elite Homicide Unit, known as “Lozikeyi,” were present.
Hove is survived by four children and will be laid to rest at her rural home in Mberengwa on Monday, 10 March.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/watch-family-demands-high-emotion-confrontation-and-tensions-at-slain-detectives-funeral/">Chronicle</a>

Pindula News

Summary:

A family confronted police officers at a funeral in Zimbabwe over the fatal shooting of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove. Hove was shot during a police operation to catch armed robbers and died in the hospital. The family questioned the police about the circumstances of the shooting and demanded answers. They were upset that someone else signed hospital documents for Hove and claimed they were not involved. The family expressed dissatisfaction with the police's account of events and vowed to seek justice. They eventually proceeded with the funeral after police promised a full investigation. Hove, who had received a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia, will be buried in her rural home.

Family Confronts Police Over Detective Constable Cassandra Hove's Fatal Shooting

A Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer who tragically lost her life during a confrontation with armed robbers in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb on Thursday night was, in fact, killed by a police bullet, it has emerged.
Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, 37, a mother of four, sustained a single gunshot wound to her left breast, with the bullet remaining lodged in her body.
She was swiftly transported to Flex Clinic in Lobengula, where she was pronounced dead on arrival just before 9 PM.
Initially, it was believed that she had been shot by the armed robbers she was pursuing. However, family spokesman Ryan Gambinga later revealed that police officials had informed them that her death was the result of friendly fire. In a statement, Gambinga said:
<blockquote>
The family is deeply shocked and troubled by the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. While we initially received conflicting reports, our recent meeting with ZRP Bulawayo has confirmed that a fellow police officer, and not armed robbers, was involved in this devastating event.
This revelation raises profound questions and intensifies our grief. We are committed to uncovering the complete truth and ensuring that justice is served.
As we mourn the loss of our beloved daughter, we demand a thorough and transparent investigation.
</blockquote>
In a statement issued just hours after Hove’s death, Police said: “comprehensive investigations are underway with a view to establishing what exactly transpired.”
At the time of her death, Hove was pursuing a career outside the police force after earning a degree in forensic accounting.
She was also a proud member of the all-female Lozikeyi team of detectives, based at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The unit, named after Queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo—one of King Lobengula’s senior wives—honours her legacy as a key figure in organising resistance against British colonial forces during the 1896 Anglo-Ndebele War.
Queen Lozikeyi was instrumental in preparing war medicines and rallying the Ndebele regiments in their fight for independence.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/slain-bulawayo-detective-was-killed-by-a-police-gun-family-says/">ZimLive</a>

A police officer named Cassandra Hove was shot dead in Bulawayo by a fellow police officer during a confrontation with armed robbers. Originally, it was thought she was shot by the robbers she was chasing. The family is devastated and wants a thorough investigation. Cassandra was a detective and part of an all-female team named Lozikeyi honoring a historical figure. The police are investigating the incident further to find out what really happened.

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