A tense confrontation unfolded 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 clarity and justice regarding her death.
Hove, a female detective who was part of a police operation to apprehend armed robbers in Pumula South last Thursday, was fatally shot in the chest and pronounced dead at a local clinic around 9 PM.
The funeral service, originally set for 10 AM, was delayed as emotions ran high among mourners and close family members, who confronted the police officers on site. The situation intensified when some family members verbally accused the police of concealing details about Hove’s death.
The police have stated that Hove was not killed by the robbers, but rather by a fellow officer. The family is demanding clarification on whether the shooting was an accident or intentional.
According to police reports, Hove was shot in the upper limbs during a gunfight with robbers around 8:40 PM. She was rushed to a nearby private clinic, where she was declared dead upon arrival.
The family also sought answers regarding the officers involved in the Pumula South operation, as well as the person who authorized Hove’s post-mortem. To their shock, they learned that someone else had signed hospital documents as Hove’s next of kin, claiming no involvement in the process.
A family member expressed concerns, saying: “There’s something suspicious here. Why was the post-mortem carried out without our consent? Why were bereavement funds collected without our knowledge, and where did the money go?”
Additionally, the family questioned why the police informed them of Hove’s death hours after the incident and demanded her mobile phones and house title deeds for unspecified reasons.
Despite their dissatisfaction with the police’s explanation, the family vowed to continue seeking justice for Hove. Ryan Gambinga, speaking on behalf of the family, said they were devastated by the circumstances surrounding Hove’s death. He added: “We initially received conflicting reports, but our recent meeting with ZRP Bulawayo confirmed that a fellow officer, not the robbers, was involved in this tragic incident.”
The family’s confrontation with the officers continued until around 3 PM, when tensions subsided following a private meeting with several senior police officials. Gambinga shared, “After the meeting, we decided to proceed with the service, as the police assured us they would launch a full investigation into the matter. They gave us their word, and now it’s up to them to follow through.”
Gambinga also expressed disappointment that those directly involved in the incident had not come forward, leaving the family without closure. He revealed that Hove had recently been awarded a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia, which made her death even more tragic. “We had completed her paperwork and were in the process of securing funds. This is a great loss,” he said.
While several police officers attended Hove’s emotional funeral, none from the Criminal Investigations Department’s elite Homicide Unit, “Lozikeyi,” were present.
Hove is survived by four children and will be laid to rest at her rural home in Mberengwa on Monday, March 10.
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