By A Correspondent | Mberengwa, Zimbabwe — The shocking death of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, initially blamed on armed robbers in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb, has taken a disturbing twist as allegations surface that she was actually killed by fellow police officers.
Hove, who was fatally shot last Thursday during what police described as a gunfight with criminals, was laid to rest yesterday in Mataruse Village, Mberengwa District. However, her burial was overshadowed by outrage and unanswered questions, with her family demanding to know the truth about what really happened.
Family Accuses Police of Cover-Up
At an emotionally charged funeral service in Bulawayo on Sunday, family members directly confronted police officers, accusing them of hiding the real circumstances surrounding Hove’s death. They alleged that the official version—claiming she was gunned down by robbers—was a fabrication and that she was, in fact, shot by a fellow officer.
“If this was an accident, why is the police force covering it up? If it was intentional, then we demand justice,” a distraught relative said during the service.
The family raised several alarming concerns, including:
• The identities of the officers involved in the Pumula South operation remain undisclosed.
• The post-mortem process was carried out without family involvement, and a mysterious individual signed off as Hove’s next of kin.
• The police’s narrative appears inconsistent with eyewitness accounts.
What Really Happened in Pumula South?
According to official reports, Hove sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body during the alleged exchange of fire. However, the family believes she may have been deliberately targeted.
“She was shot at close range, and the trajectory of the bullets suggests she wasn’t caught in crossfire—she was a direct target,” said a family spokesperson, Mr. Ryan Gambinga.
Gambinga confirmed that the family was demanding an independent investigation into her killing.
“We will not rest until we know who fired the fatal shots and why,” he said.
Silence from Authorities
Despite growing pressure, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has remained tight-lipped, sticking to its initial statement that Hove was killed by armed robbers. No officers involved in the operation have been publicly named, and calls for an internal inquiry have been met with silence.
Hove’s tragic death is even more devastating as she had recently secured a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia. She leaves behind four children, now orphaned under mysterious and deeply troubling circumstances.
With suspicions mounting and the family vowing legal action, the pressure is now on ZRP to come clean. Was this truly a case of friendly fire, or was Detective Hove silenced for something she knew?
The truth, it seems, remains buried—for now.- ZimEye