Family of Slain Detective Constable Cassandra Hove Takes Legal Action Against ZRP Over Suspicious Death.
By Farai D Hove | ZimEye | The sudden and controversial death of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove has not only raised serious questions about police accountability but has also opened the door to what legal experts describe as a potentially precedent-setting civil claim against the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Under Zimbabwean law, as codified in both the Constitution and common law principles, the family may be entitled to substantial damages for wrongful death, loss of support, emotional distress, and reputational harm.
Drawing from legal precedent such as ZESA v Dera 1998 (1) ZLR 500 (S), where the Supreme Court upheld a claim for damages against a state entity due to negligence leading to death, experts argue that the Hove family could be awarded a financial settlement ranging between US$150,000 to US$250,000, depending on the proven dependency and the deceased’s projected future earnings. Cassandra Hove, a Detective Constable in her prime, was not only a mother but also a key breadwinner, factors that courts typically weigh heavily when quantifying damages.
Legal practitioners point out that section 50(9) of the Zimbabwe Constitution, which guarantees the right to compensation for unlawful or negligent deaths at the hands of law enforcement, could also strengthen the family’s case. Further, the common law action for loss of support, historically recognized in cases like Ncube v ZRP SC 37/2014, could be pivotal in calculating the settlement, particularly given the alleged gross misconduct and possible criminal negligence involving a police-issued firearm.
With ZLHR now formally engaged and police authorities under a seven-day ultimatum, the family’s claim may not only lead to a financial award but could also signal a legal turning point in civil suits against state institutions for fatal police shootings.
The family of the late Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, who was fatally shot by a fellow police officer during an operation targeting suspected armed robbers, has engaged the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to seek justice and transparency regarding her death.
The family, who has been outspoken about what they describe as the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s “unprofessional and opaque” handling of the case, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the police demanding full disclosure of the incident’s details.
In an interview with The Chronicle, Cassandra Hove’s father, Mr. Chikauriso Hove, confirmed that ZLHR is representing the family’s interests, raising serious concerns over how police authorities have conducted themselves since the fatal shooting.
ZLHR last week served formal letters to several high-ranking officials, including the Officer in Charge of Pumula Police Station, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province, ZRP Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba, and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe. The human rights lawyers have demanded urgent answers on the circumstances surrounding Hove’s death.
The family is also questioning the conduct of Hove’s colleague, identified as Lethokuhle Sibanda, who allegedly completed post-mortem authorization forms without consulting the family.
“The family is alarmed at the allegations raised about the conduct of one Lethokuhle Sibanda, who had reportedly completed some forms authorising the carrying out of a post-mortem on the body of the deceased person without consulting her family,” ZLHR said in a statement.
In another shocking allegation, the family claims that Sibanda visited Hove’s home shortly after her death, where she allegedly demanded details about the deceased officer’s property and mobile phones from her children.
“After Cassandra had been shot, the same Sibanda visited the deceased person’s residence, where she found the late law enforcement agent’s children and demanded certain information about her residential properties and demanded her mobile phones, but her children refused to comply after getting guidance from their relatives,” ZLHR added.
Mr. Hove further alleges that Sibanda received R3,000 from Luveve residents as a funeral contribution but failed to hand it over to the family.
The family also raised concerns about the arrest of a suspect identified as Fikile Ncube, who was reportedly apprehended on the night of the fatal shooting. However, the family says they were not informed of the arrest, further deepening suspicions about police transparency.
In a meeting held on March 8 with senior officers from the CID Homicide Unit in Bulawayo, Mr. Hove and his relatives were informed for the first time that Cassandra had been shot with a police-issued firearm—contradicting earlier accounts they had received.
“On March 8, 2025, Mr. Hove said he attended a meeting together with his relatives with the Officer In Charge of CID Homicide in Bulawayo and other ZRP officers, where he was informed that the preliminary findings were that his daughter had been shot by a police-issued firearm, contrary to what the family had been told before,” ZLHR revealed.
While the police have yet to release further information publicly, Commissioner-General Mutamba has assured the family that a thorough investigation is underway.
In the meantime, pressure continues to mount on authorities to address the family’s growing list of grievances as public scrutiny intensifies over yet another controversial death within Zimbabwe’s law enforcement ranks.
This is a developing story.