Family’s heartfelt plea for missing Melbourne man Eimable Manirakiza to come home

The family of a singer missing for more than a month have pleaded for him to come home, opening up about the last time they saw him.

The family of a Melbourne soul singer who disappeared more than a month ago have made a heartfelt plea for him to come home as they ramp up efforts to find him.

Eimable Manirakiza, 24, of Point Cook, was last seen walking away from his mum’s home across Gordon Okeeffe Reserve in Werribee about 1.30pm on June 23.

His 22-year-old brother, Bienvenue Manirakiza, said Eimable was in a panicked state when he walked off across the park and didn’t come back.

He left his family’s home while they were waiting for an ambulance to take him to hospital.

But despite his mental health challenges, he said it was the first time his brother had ever gone missing.

He told NCA NewsWire their family and friends just wanted to know where he was and that he was safe.

Eimable Manirakiza, 24, with his younger brother.

Eimable Manirakiza is a well-respected singer.

“You’re supported by so many people who love you,” Bienvenue said in a plea to his brother.

“You mean so much to so many people and we just want to know where you are.

“We just want you to come home and know that you’re safe, even if he doesn’t want to come home, just to know that he’s there.”

Bienvenue said it had been a difficult month for the entire family – Eimable is one of nine children – but especially for their mum Benigne, who he said had struggled to come to terms with a perceived “lack of response” from police to try to find her son.

Family and friends have even set up a phone hotline on 1800 717 568 and an Instagram page as part of their desperate efforts to find Eimable. They have also contemplated hiring a private investigator to help the search.

Missing soul singer Eimable Manirakiza, 24, with his brother Bienvenue, 22.

“It’s been very tough to get through the emotions and try to understand it; it’s almost like going through a process of grieving in a way but without actually understanding what’s going on,” Bienvenue said.

“We’ve have a lot of support, friends, people coming around to our house with food and the outreach on social media.

“We have a lot of people that care for Eimable and lot of people that are looking for him.”

Bienvenue said his brother was well-known for his singing, but also loved to skate and was a “real spiritual cat”, loved nature and liked to do meditations.

He is loved and respected in the Melbourne hip hop community and works in the hospitality industry.

Soul singer Eimable Manirakiza, 24, was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket.

“He’s an incredible singer; he’s most known for his musical talents,” he said.

“He has done busking but at the time that he left he didn’t have musical instruments with him.”

He said he liked to visit Fitzroy, the Edinburgh or Botanical Gardens and the St Kilda area around Acland Street, but had previously lived in Reservoir, Elsternwick, Epping, Lalor and Clifton Hill.

Eimable was born in Tanzania to Burundian parents, but grew up in Perth from age six before moving to Melbourne.

His mum, Benigne, urged the community to help bring her son home.

“Whoever sees my son, please contact us and bring him back, we need many people to be searching for him,” she said.

Eimable was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, black pants, black high top sneakers, carrying a black converse bag and wearing his hair in a loose ponytail.

Bienvenue urged anyone who sees his brother to be gentle and approach him with care, as he was in a fearful and fragile state when he left his mum’s house.

Police confirmed that Eimable was still missing but didn’t provide any further details.

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Originally published as Family’s heartfelt plea for missing Melbourne man Eimable Manirakiza to come home