http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=1622&cat=3

www.zimbabwejournalists.com
January 22 2007

Charlene laid to rest in New Zealand

MARTIN HUNTER/Sunday Star-Times
CHARLENE FAREWELLED: Controversy continued to swirl yesterday as 10-year-old Charlene Makaza, who police claim was sexually-assaulted and murdered, was buried in Christchurch.

Charlene Makaza, the 10-year old Zimbabwean girl who was murdered in New Zealand, was buried yesterday by her Christchurch family after a moving ceremony, which highlighted the "swirl of controversy" surrounding her death.

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.

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

The pain etched on the grieving family was there for all to see but controversy continued to swirl yesterday as the 10-year-old, who police claim was sexually-assaulted and murdered, was buried in Christchurch.

Police investigating Charlene's suspicious death last week said they still had no firm suspects but will continue to talk to family members since there was no sign of intrusion into the family home.

According to the Sunday Star Times, police are still investigating events leading to her death with inquiries being focused on the family. The newspaper reports police have been briefed on the myth that has seen many African girls dying of the dreaded HIV/Aids virus as they are raped by men who believe sleeping with a virgin can cleanse them of the killer virus.

Results from a second post-mortem on Charlene and other forensic tests are due in a few weeks.

Last week, police revealed Charlene 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 post-mortem 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.

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 on-going 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 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 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.

Since Charlene's death, her sister has been taken into Child, Youth and Family care. Police have interviewed family friends. The family have 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.