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."