The Press
January 22 2007

Zimbabwean community, friends farewell Charlene Makaza

Friends and relatives support each other leaving the Hornby community centre where a service was held on Saturday for Charlene Makaza, 10, whose death on January 7 is being treated as a homicide

About 150 people, including members of the Zimbabwean community and school friends, attended the service.

Police revealed last week that 10-year-old Makaza had suffered a violent sexual attack before she was suffocated.

Charlene's Auckland-based cousin, Maggie Gwaze, spoke at the service of how Charlene was "very loved". Charlene had 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 said to her aunt: "I just wanted to say thank you for looking after me." Gwaze said: "Her death has been devastating to the whole family ... as a family, we are truly grateful to God for giving us this child."