Vusumuzi Dube
A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detective was shot dead on Thursday night as police pursued armed robbers in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb.
Casandra Hove was shot on her upper body, leading to her death.
The incident occurred at about 9 PM in the Habek residential area.
Zimpapers Online will be giving you updates as more details emerge.
Police investigate fatal shooting of Detective in Bulawayo
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation into the tragic death of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove of CID Homicide Bulawayo, who was fatally shot on Thursday while pursuing armed robbery suspects.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the shooting occurred in the Harbek area of Pumula South, Bulawayo.
“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,” he said.
“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 police reiterated their commitment to fighting violent crime.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there is no going back in the fight against armed robberies and other violent crimes in the country,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
Detective Constable Hove Remembered for Her Exceptional Service
The late Detective Constable Hove has been described as a distinguished officer who excelled in her carrier to an extent that she was incorporated to the specialised CID Homicide Squad.
Officer Commanding Police for Bulawayo Province, Commissioner Jasper Chizemo described Detective Constable Hove as a hardworking police officer.
“It is very unfortunate that the Zimbabwe Republic Police lost a hardworking police officer a female for that matter who died in the line of duty pursuing robbers who had been committing a spade of robbery cases in the province. We are as the Police still determined to account for all the criminals who were involved in the robberies and that less of the death of one of our own,” said Commissioner Chizemo.
Sources close to the late Constable Hove who spoke on condition of anonymity said she was a brave officer who was pivotal in the formation of the Queen Lozikeyi group.
“CID is a very special unit that deals with high profile criminal cases like murder and armed robberies. For members of the police to be incorporated into the squad, they should not only have passed particular interviews but would have been selected based on their various top tier exhibition in the execution of duties.
“Constable Hove is one of the officers who exhibited brilliance while in her previous station particularly bravery. She had just been recently deployed into the CID Homicide squad where she also became one of the founding members of the Queen Lozikeyi group,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another source said the late Cst Hove was soft spoken but brave while she also valued education through pursuing academics.
“She always encouraged members to study and led by example as she recently graduated. She was very soft spoken but was tough when it came to her execution of duties. The role that she played is not for the faint hearted, as such, for her to take up this challenging role shows how brave she was and above all her dedication towards fighting crime.
“We are very saddened by her loss particularly loosing a colleague within the line of duty,” said the source.
Family urges further investigations into death of police officer
THE family of the late Detective Constable Cassandra Hove have called for a thorough and transparent investigation into circumstances surrounding her death amid revelations that the bullet which killed her came from a police gun not from an armed roober as had been earlier suggested.
Detective Constable Hove, whose death has sent shockwaves across Zimbabwe’s crime fighting ranks, tragically lost her life at a local private clinic after sustaining gunshot wounds to her upper limbs during a police raid in the Habek area of Pumula South.
Detective Constable Hove was part of a team on the trail of robbers believed to have been preying on service stations around Bulawayo.
Her fatal shooting left a dark cloud over Pumula South, where the shooting of an officer of the law left ordinary citizens shell-shocked, as they took stock of the shocking events from Thursday night.
In a statement the family’s spokesperson, Mr Ryan Gambinga said as a family they were committed to uncovering the truth surrounding the officer’s death.
“The family of Cassandra Hove 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,” reads the statement.
Slain detective buried
THE late Detective Constable Cassandra Hove, who was fatally shot during a gunfight with armed robbers in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb last Thursday, was laid to rest on Tuesday at her rural home in Mataruse Village, Mberengwa District, Midlands Province.
However, her burial was overshadowed by controversy as her family continues to question how she was killed.
During her funeral service at a funeral parlour in Bulawayo on Sunday, emotions ran high as family members confronted the police, accusing them of concealing the truth.
They 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.
According to official police reports, Hove sustained gunshot wounds to her upper body during an exchange of fire with the suspects at around 8.40PM. She was rushed to a nearby private clinic where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The family demanded to know the identities of the officers deployed in the Pumula South raid and the individual who authorised Hove’s post-mortem, arguing that they were not involved in the process and were shocked to learn that someone else had signed documents at the hospital as Hove’s next of kin.
The family said it was not satisfied with the version of events given by the police and vowed to pursue the matter until the culprits were brought to justice.
Family spokesperson Mr Ryan Gambinga confirmed Hove’s burial.
“She has been laid to rest in Mataruse Village in Mberengwa today (Tuesday),” he said.
Mr Gambinga could not be drawn into divulging further information about the burial proceedings.
He said the family was deeply troubled and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Hove’s death came at a tragic time, as she had recently secured a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia.
She is survived by four children.
Police Commissioner General Mutamba orders full scale investigation into CID detective shooting
POLICE Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of detective Constable Cassandra Hove while assuring the family that no stone will be left unturned.
Comm-Gen Mutamba, through the police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said all concerns raised by the late Hove’s family and the public have been noted.
“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,” said Comm Nyathi.
He said police would release a statement once investigations are complete.
“The police will certainly update the family and public in due course once the current comprehensive investigations are complete. The investigations cover all the aspects raised by The Chronicle,” said Comm Nyathi.
Hove’s death has become a matter of public interest, as it recently emerged that she was allegedly shot by a colleague in a shootout with armed robbers during a raid in Pumula South suburb last week.
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. She was 37.
Police officer confesses to killing Hove
IN a surprising turn of events, a police officer stationed at Hillside Police Station in Bulawayo has allegedly confessed to the fatal shooting of Detective Constable Cassandra Hove a fortnight ago.
The suspect has been identified as one Constable NomoreMuradzikwa and is being held at Donnington Police Station.
According to police sources, Muradzikwa confessed to the crime, saying he does not need the services of a lawyer.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning.
Online Reporter