http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/nz8.15858.html

newzimbabwe.com
January 22 2007

'Swirl of controversy' as Charlene laid to rest
by Deidre Mussen

Police have been briefed on African beliefs about sex, including the myth that sex with a virgin can cure Aids, as part of the Christchurch investigation into a Zimbabwean girl's death.

Charlene Makaza, 10, was on Saturday buried by her Christchurch family after a moving ceremony, which highlighted the "swirl of controversy" surrounding her death.

Last week, police revealed she had serious injuries consistent with a vicious sexual assault, which occurred soon before her death a fortnight ago.

Charlene's aunt found her in bed having trouble breathing on January 6. Her condition worsened and she died the next morning in Christchurch Hospital. Police launched a homicide inquiry after an initial postmortem showed she had been suffocated.

She and her 12-year-old sister, Charmaine, lived with their aunt and uncle, Sifiso and George Gwaze, their 24-year-old son, George, and 20-year-old daughter Nothando at their rented Christchurch home. They were all home when she was found and police have said the family was the focus of their investigations.

Sources close to the investigation said police had been briefed about African beliefs and practises surrounding sex, including the myth that sex with a virgin could cure Aids and about Zimbabwe's appalling child sex abuse statistics.

Zimbabwe is battling an orphan crisis with more than one million children left without parents as the Aids rate soars.

At Charlene's funeral yesterday morning, Pastor Jeff Whittaker, of Bryndwr Baptist Church, told about 150 mourners, including many from the Zimbabwean community and young school friends, that mystery surrounded her death.

"Not only that but there is a swirl of controversy."

Normally families could get on with mourning once their loved ones were buried but that would be some time off for the Gwazes because of ongoing inquiries into her death, he said.

Charlene's older cousin, Maggie Gwaze, of Auckland, said she had been cared for by the family since she was seven months old, along with her sister. It was "one of the best things that happened to our family", she said.

"Having two new sisters brought a special joy to our family."

Charlene's parents died when she was too young to feel their loss. She was the youngest of 35 grandchildren and was "very loved".

Maggie Gwaze said Charlene had been very excited to move to New Zealand from Zimbabwe, more than a year ago.

Charlene visited her in Auckland on December 26 for a week-long holiday, enjoying sightseeing and shopping.

On her return, four days before she died, Charlene turned to her aunt and said: "I just wanted to say thank you for looking after me."

"Her death has been devastating to the whole family... As a family, we are truly grateful to God for giving us this child," Maggie Gwaze said.

The service also heard how Charlene was reluctant to play sports but loved singing and had a deep Christian belief, as had the Gwaze family.

Charlene's small white coffin, adorned with a bouquet of flowers, was carried out of the service by her four cousins. Ahead was her sister, clutching a photograph of Charlene and a white teddy bear.

Since Charlene's death, her sister has been taken into Child, Youth and Family care. Police have interviewed the Gwazes' friends. The family had rented their Hollyford Ave home in Bryndwr for more than a year. Their landlords were also interviewed by police last week and confirmed the house had new locks when the Gwazes moved in.

Police stressed there were no signs of an intruder in the two-storied weatherboard home but hadn't ruled out the possibility.

According to the New Zealand Aids Foundation, more than half the 497 people diagnosed with heterosexually acquired HIV infection in New Zealand in the past decade were African.

Results from a second postmortem on Charlene and other forensic tests are due in a few weeks.- Sunday Star Times