Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, who was shot and killed in Bulawayo last Thursday.
ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi told the Chronicle that every effort will be made to uncover the full details of the incident, adding that the police will release a statement once the investigation is complete. Said Nyathi:
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He has since ordered full-scale investigations into the case. The Zimbabwe Republic Police once again assures the public that no stone will be left unturned to establish what transpired on the day.
The police will certainly update the family and public in due course once the current comprehensive investigations are complete.
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Hove’s death has sparked public interest, following reports that she was shot by armed robbers in the line of duty.
Earlier on it had been reported that she was shot by armed robbers in the suburb during a covert operation.
It was only after Hove’s family raised concerns as to how she was killed that the matter raised eyebrows.
During her funeral service at a funeral parlour in Bulawayo on Sunday, her family alleged that Hove was not killed by the robbers but rather by one of her colleagues and demanded clarification on whether this was an accident or intentional.
At her burial in Mberengwa on Monday, a family member claimed that Hove was not accidentally shot, saying the shooting was intentional.
According to the official narrative, Hove was fatally wounded during an exchange of fire with robbery suspects at around 8:40 PM. 
She was reportedly rushed to a nearby private clinic after sustaining gunshot wounds to her upper body, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
However, her family has expressed their dissatisfaction with the police’s account, demanding transparency regarding the officers involved in the Pumula South raid.
They are also seeking answers about who authorised her post-mortem, revealing that someone other than her next of kin had signed the documents at the hospital.
The family has vowed to pursue justice, saying they cannot accept the current version of events and will continue to seek the truth until those responsible for her death are held accountable.
Detective Hove’s death is made all the more tragic by the fact that she was only 37 and a mother of four, with a promising future ahead of her. Just recently, she had secured a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia.
Hove was also a dedicated member of Team Lozikeyi, an elite all-female unit created to address complex criminal cases, including armed robberies and serial crimes, in Bulawayo.
The unit, named in honour of Queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo, a key figure in the 1896 Ndebele uprising, gained recognition for its exceptional work and was composed of highly skilled female officers who underwent rigorous training.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-boss-orders-probe-into-cid-detectives-shooting/">Chronicle</a>

Pindula News

Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba has ordered an investigation into Detective Constable Cassandra Hove's death. She was shot and killed in Bulawayo. Her family thinks she was not killed by robbers, but by a colleague. They want to know if it was an accident or on purpose. Hove was shot during a robbery operation and died in the hospital. Her family is not happy with the police's version of events and wants justice. She was a mother of four and part of an all-female police unit named Team Lozikeyi. The investigation is ongoing to find out the truth.

Police Commissioner Orders Thorough Investigation Into Detective Constable Cassandra Hove's Death

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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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We had sorted all her paperwork and were in the process of securing funds. This is truly a tragedy.
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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>

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:
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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.
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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.

"Slain CID Officer Was Shot Dead By A Police Gun"

A detective from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was shot dead around 9 PM on Thursday while police pursued armed robbers in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb.
Casandra Hove, a member of Bulawayo’s distinguished all-female police unit, Team Lozikeyi, sustained a gunshot wound to her upper body, resulting in her death.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the death of Constable Casandra Hove in a statement issued on Friday afternoon. He said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with the tragic and unfortunate death of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove of CID Homicide Bulawayo on 6th March 2025 while pursuing armed robbery suspects.
The shooting incident occurred at Harbek area, Pumula South, Bulawayo. The Commissioner-General of Police Stephen Mutamba expresses condolences to the Hove family and assures the public that comprehensive investigations are underway with a view of establishing what actually transpired.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robberies and other violent crimes in the country.
The public should feel free to give information on criminal movements on Complaints Desk number 0242703631 or WhatsApp number 0712800197.
</blockquote>

A detective from CID was killed in a shootout with armed robbers in Bulawayo. The detective, Casandra Hove, was a member of the all-female police unit called Team Lozikeyi. She got shot in the upper body and died. The incident happened around 9 PM in Pumula South suburb. It is a sad event and more details will be given later.

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