Mother of 4, detective Cassandra Hove who was shot dead just before quitting police for accounting was killed by a fellow police officer: says her family

Bulawayo – A Bulawayo family is demanding answers after learning that Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, a 34-year-old mother of four, was allegedly killed by a police bullet during a confrontation with armed robbers in Pumula South last Thursday night.

The family’s claims contradict initial reports that Hove was shot by the armed robbers she and her team were pursuing.

Hove, a member of the all-female Lozikeyi team of detectives based at Bulawayo Central Police Station, sustained a single gunshot wound to her left breast. The bullet remained lodged in her body, according to a postmortem document seen by ZimLive. She was rushed to Flex Clinic in Lobengula, but was pronounced dead on arrival just before 9PM.

Now, her grieving family says they have been informed by police chiefs that she in fact died from friendly fire.

Family spokesman Ryan Gambinga said in a statement: “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.”

Police Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, in a statement issued just hours after Hove’s death, said “comprehensive investigations are underway with a view to establishing what exactly transpired.”

The incident occurred at approximately 8:40PM in the Habek area of Pumula South. Hove was part of a team of detectives engaged in a raid against armed robbers suspected of targeting service stations throughout the city. The city has recently recorded a series of armed robberies at fuel service stations. In one of the nights, five fuel stations were raided. So, CID detectives were following up on a tip-off, but unfortunately the armed robbers shot and subsequently killed the cop,” said a source.

The shooting is said to have happened so quickly that Pumula South residents in the area were left shocked.

“Although we heard gunshots, we couldn’t tell what really transpired. I heard three gunshots. I was scared to go out and check what was happening, but some few residents went to the scene but didn’t stay long. It is only today that we learnt that a cop had been shot and killed. Our neighbourhoods are becoming unsafe. We hope the police will soon get to the bottom of the matter,” said a Pumula South resident who preferred not to be named.

Cassandra Hove was shot dead in the Habek area at around 9PM as she and colleagues from the Criminal Investigations Department’s Homicide division pursued a gang wanted for armed robbery. She was a member of an all-female team of detectives known within the police as Team Lozikeyi, named after Ndebele queen Lozikeyi Dlodlo, who was one of King Lobengula’s wives. Police have launched an appeal for information over the police officer’s killing.

Hove, who was born in Mberengwa on November 5, 1990, was a mother of three daughters and a boy.

Just hours before her death, Detective Constable Hove had posted a seemingly cryptic message on her Facebook page, “Usandipusha, ndofamba ndega . . . Ndini zvangu ndichiudza ngirozi musi we judgement day,” translating to “do not push me, I can walk on my own, that will be me saying that to an angel on judgement day.” This led to an outpouring of grief, with many mourning her death while others suggested her message could be interpreted as a premonition of her demise. A source close to the investigation revealed that her death occurred during a pursuit of suspects wanted for armed robberies targeting fuel stations.

Tragically, Hove’s dedication to law enforcement came just as she was on the cusp of a career change. Friends said Hove had been actively pursuing a career away from the police, possibly in banking, after recently gaining qualifications in forensic accounting.

“I’m thrilled to share that I’ve recently joined the forensic accounting team, and I feel honoured to be a part of such a talented and dedicated group,” she wrote on her LinkedIn account last month.

Hove was actively pursuing a career away from the police at the time of her death after graduating with a degree in forensic accounting.

As investigations continue, the circumstances surrounding Detective Constable Hove’s death remain shrouded in mystery. The family’s call for a thorough and transparent investigation underscores the need for clarity and accountability in this tragic incident.