Lusaka Taxi Driver Vindicated: Women Apologize for Fabricated Sexual Assault Claims

A disturbing incident involving false accusations against a Yango driver, Mervin, by two 25-year-old women, Mariah Sinamweenda and Angela Nsofwa, recently unfolded, highlighting the perils of unverified information spread through social media. The saga began when Mariah, seated in the back of Mervin's car, claimed to her friend Angela that she felt something caress her thigh and subsequently alleged that Mervin had attempted to rape her. According to Angela, Mariah further escalated the claims by stating that Mervin had torn her clothes and attempted rape.

Alarmed by Mariah's report, Angela Nsofwa swiftly acted, seeking Mervin's details to alert the public and track him down. Without counter-checking the veracity of her friend's claims, Angela immediately took to Facebook. She posted a screenshot of the Yango driver’s details along with the position Mariah had given her, making serious allegations: “This YANGO driver tried to assault my friend yesterday. He beat her up, ripped her clothes and tried to rape her. He was released on bail today because it was attempted rape. Please share this with as many people as we can. He is dangerous!!! My friend is safe. She was helped just in time before he harmed her further. Please let’s be safe out there.”

This incendiary message was widely circulated across social media platforms, leading to the rapid identification of Mervin. Like anyone falsely accused, Mervin was significantly affected by the widespread lies. The allegations, which made rounds last month, warned members of the public to avoid him, describing him as “dangerous.”

However, the truth eventually came to light. A meeting was convened to resolve the escalating situation, involving the family of the falsely accused Yango driver and that of Mariah Sinamweenda. It was in this meeting that the fabrication of the story by Mariah was unearthed. Investigations by authorities further confirmed that Mariah had concocted the entire narrative; she was never attacked, beaten, nor were any of her clothes torn apart, and no one had attempted to rape her. It was specifically revealed that Mervin was in the driver’s seat while Mariah, who sat alone in the back, felt something gently caress her thigh, leading to her initial, unverified claim.

Exonerated from the false accusations of attempting to rape the 25-year-old, Mervin demanded a public apology from Mariah and Angela, to be delivered through the same channels used to falsely accuse him of assault and attempted rape. Faced with potential legal repercussions for cyber-related crimes, the two women subsequently issued unreserved apologies. In their separate statements to TV Yatu and Kalemba, they publicly withdrew their claims and apologized to Mervin and the public, admitting that the accusations they spread were false.

Mariah Sinamweenda accepted full responsibility, stating, “I unreservedly retract the accusation and affirm that it is not true. I am truly at fault for everything. I was the one who shared the false statement… Mr Mervin is innocent.” She expressed deep remorse to Mervin, his family, and the public for the pain, emotional trauma, and damage to his reputation, urging everyone who had shared the allegations to cease circulating them and instead share the correction. She also cautioned, “Use me as an example and do not share false and unverified information because cyber crime is real.”

Similarly, Angela Nsofwa admitted that the information she posted on June 17, 2026, was false. She acknowledged that investigations had revealed Mervin had not committed any of the offenses she had accused him of. “The claims made against Mr Mervin were false. He did not do any of the things I posted about,” Angela wrote, expressing profound regret for her irresponsibility and failure to verify the information before publishing it. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of verifying information before sharing it, especially on social media, to prevent irreparable harm to innocent individuals. ©TV Yatu | David Kashiki | July 4, 2026.