Emotions at Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in Bulawayo as the family of the late detective, Constable Cassandra Hove, sought answers surrounding her tragic death during a shootout with armed robbers in Pumula South last Thursday.
The funeral service, initially scheduled for 10 AM, was delayed after mourners and relatives confronted police officers present, accusing them of withholding crucial details about Hove’s death.
Family members expressed scepticism over the official account, alleging that Hove may not have been killed by robbers but rather by one of her colleagues. They demanded clarity on whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
According to police reports, Hove sustained gunshot wounds to her upper body during the confrontation and was rushed to a private clinic, where she was pronounced dead.
However, the family questioned why they were not consulted in the post-mortem process and were shocked to learn that someone else had signed as her next of kin at the hospital.
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“We were not informed about the post-mortem, and we want to know who authorised it,” a distraught family member said. “Why did the police delay notifying us of her death, and why were they collecting bereavement funds without informing us?”
The family also expressed frustration that key officers involved in the operation had not come forward to speak with them, calling it a violation of cultural customs.
Ryan Gambinga, the family spokesperson, confirmed that after discussions with ZRP Bulawayo, they were told a fellow officer, not the suspected robbers, was responsible for Hove’s death.
“This revelation only deepens our sorrow. We will not rest until a full investigation is conducted and justice is served,” Gambinga stated.
Following a closed-door meeting with senior police officials around 3 PM, the family agreed to proceed with the funeral service after assurances that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
Hove, who had recently secured a scholarship to study forensic investigations in Russia, is survived by four children. She will be laid to rest today at her rural home in Mberengwa.
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