Bulawayo police officer shot dead in shock midnight attack
By Staff Reporter
In a shock incident, a 43-year-old Zimbabwe Republic Police officer was shot dead in cold blood by five unidentified men he had reportedly stopped just after midnight Friday in Bulawayo’s Sizinda high density suburb.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the killing of Sergeant Abel Masaya.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the fatal shooting of a police officer (43) in Sizinda suburb Bulawayo on 28 March 2025 at 0000 hours,” Nyathi said.
“The police officer was in the company of a colleague while driving a police vehicle.
“The team was attending to a case of domestic violence when the five suspects came to the gate and shot him dead in cold blood.”
A police memo released earlier said that Masaya, who was wearing his uniform, was standing next to a police vehicle when he saw a group of five men wearing dark clothing approaching.
Masaya stopped them and asked where they were coming from, further requesting that they identify themselves.
“One of them pointed a firearm and shot Sergeant Masava on the head…he was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he was confirmed dead upon admission,” read the memo in part.
Police called on anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects to volunteer such lead to any of their nearest police stations.
Masava is the second police officer to die on duty inside a month in Bulawayo.
On March 6, detective Cassandra Hove died after being shot in the chest by a colleague in Pumula South suburb.
