By Evans Dakwa
The death of Detective Cassandra Hove, a 37-year-old member of the all-female detective unit known as Lozikeyi in Bulawayo has taken twist as details leading to her demise emerge.
Initially reported as a killing by armed robbers, the family of the slain mother of four has revealed they quizzed the police who admitted the dedicated detective was shot by a fellow officer.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the community and left her family demanding answers and accountability especially after an unknown person is alleged to have signed off her post mortem
In a statement released by the family, they expressed their sadness and confusion over the conflicting reports initially provided by authorities.
“The family of Cassandra Hove is deeply shocked and troubled by the tragic circumstances surrounding her death,” the statement read.
“While we initially received conflicting reports, our 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, “said Hove’s family in a statement released by spokesperson Ryan Gambinga.
The family also raised concerns about the handling of Hove’s post-mortem, which they claim was conducted without their knowledge or consent.
Ryan Gambinga, the family spokesperson, stated, “We saw the post-mortem request on social media, with no input from family or next of kin. We are in shock and confused as to why this would happen. It leaves us with more questions than answers.”
The incident has sparked an outpour of emotions across Bulawayo and the rest of Zimbabwe. Family and friends of the late have flooded tributes to detective Hove, with many describing her as a hero who dedicated her life to serving her community.
At the time of writing, there was a stand of between the police and the family of Hove at Nyaradzo funeral parlour in Belmont as the family demands answers from the police.
Police are yet to release an official statement and efforts to get a comment from Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi were fruitless.