A police officer was shot and killed in Sizinda, Bulawayo, early Friday morning after confronting five men and asking them to identify themselves, authorities confirmed.
Sergeant Abel Masava, stationed at Tshabalala Police Station, was responding to a domestic violence report when he noticed a group of individuals dressed in dark clothing approaching. Standing beside a police vehicle, he stopped them and inquired about their identities and whereabouts.
According to an internal police report, one of the men suddenly pulled out a firearm and shot Masava in the head. He was immediately transported to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
At the time of the shooting, Masava was in full police uniform.
Earlier that night, Masava and a colleague had left the police station after receiving a report from a woman alleging that her husband had assaulted her. Upon arriving at the scene in Sizinda, the officers began handling the case while Masava remained outside near the police vehicle.
As the other officer, the complainant, and her friend attempted to gain entry into the house, Masava was ambushed and shot by the unidentified assailant.
Masava’s killing marks the second police officer’s death in the line of duty within a month in Bulawayo.
On March 6, detective Cassandra Hove was fatally shot in the chest by a fellow officer in Pumula South. The court later heard that the bullet was intended for an armed robbery suspect. A police officer has since been charged in connection with her murder.
Authorities have launched an investigation into Masava’s killing as they work to track down the suspects involved in the attack.
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