Family’s frantic poster appeal to find graduate missing after night out
THE parents of a missing 21-year-old are searching the streets for their son, who was last seen a week ago.
Tapiwa Matuwi, known as Tapi, was last seen by his friends in Fiction nightclub, Little Wind Street, Swansea, at around 2am on Thursday, February 7.
The 21-year-old, from Llansamlet, was then captured on CCTV in the Castle Gardens area at around 5am.
His family and friends were handing out posters in Castle Gardens yesterday and trawling the streets speaking to business owners and members of the public as they search for him.
Munyaradzi and Nyengeterayi Matuvi-Zvada, also from Llansamlet, are desperate to find their son.
Tapi’s father, Munyaradzi Zvada, said everyone “just wants him home”.
He said: “On the day he went missing he was his normal self, it was a normal day and he seemed happy.
“He left the house on Wednesday, February 6, with his laptop to go over his friend’s house, he loves music so he takes it over there to play music.
“He would usually go out and stay over his friend’s house for days after, that’s what he always does.
“On Sunday night we texted him to see if he could be home at 9am on Monday to look after his sister.
“We didn’t hear from him and on Monday he didn’t come home.
“We assumed he was with his friends but his friends thought he was with us.
“We have phoned everyone and put out appeals on social media but no-one has heard anything.
“He was last active on WhatsApp at 4.50am on Thursday morning.”
Tapi is described as about 5ft 6in tall, of slim build, with black hair which is orange on top, and a very light stubble.
Tapi graduated last year from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David after studying IT.
Mr Zvada said he has not been able to sleep, eat or work since his son went missing.
“We are desperate to find him, you see things like this on the news, you just can’t explain the feeling.
“Inside I am crying but I have to stay strong for my family.
“I am going to go to Fiction nightclub tonight to see if anyone can help.
“The support from everyone has been amazing, we are not going to stop looking for him,” the 39-yearold added.
Police are also appealing for anyone with information to come forward. A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: “Police in Swansea are appealing for help to locate a man who went missing following a night out in the city centre.
“He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap with red logo, a red jacket with Bieber written in white on the reverse, and a white hooded top beneath.
He was also wearing dark blue jeans, and high-top shoes.
“Officers and Tapi’s family are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare and are appealing to anyone who has any information on his whereabouts, or who believes they have any information from the early hours of Thursday which could assist the investigation, to come forward.” ■ If you have any information that could help the police, contact them on 101, quoting reference 1900051830.