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Larry Madowo defends his viral investigation exposé, says Tanzanians risked lives to speak to him
23rd November, 2025 09:58 AM
Cable News Network (CNN) reporter Larry Madowo has defended his team’s investigation into police brutality in Tanzania, saying that Tanzanians risked their lives to provide information for the report.
In an Instagram video on Sunday, November 23, 2025, he explained, “Tanzanians risked their lives to speak to me for our CNN investigation. We only reported what we carefully verified and can prove. Nobody has pointed out a single lie in our reporting despite a social media campaign by trolls to discredit it.”
Also watch: Amnesty International sounds alarm over escalating repression in Tanzania
Madowo said a lot of people were killed during the protests, but there were no official reports about it.
He and his team spoke to more than 100 Tanzanians who faced significant risks to share their accounts, images, and videos, despite the government making such reporting illegal.
According to Madowo, the investigation relied on verified information gathered directly from citizens, including journalists and human rights activists.
“They took a lot of risks to speak to me because the government of Tanzania has made it illegal to report on what happened, pictures, videos,” he said, showing the dangers faced by those who came forward.
Verified evidence of police brutality?
According to Madowo, CNN spent weeks analysing the videos and other materials to confirm their authenticity before releasing them.
Madowo requested Tanzanian citizens to share videos of police brutality during the deadly elections, aiming to produce an exposé.
The Tanzanian government had limited internet access during its 2025 general elections, making it nearly impossible for journalists to report freely.
Opposition leaders and human rights groups say this clampdown allowed police to act with impunity against protesters.
Also watch: AU election observers say Tanzania polls marred by glaring irregularities
Although most of the violations were recorded, state intimidation and restrictions on the media prevented Tanzanian journalists from reporting the events safely.
On Friday, November 21, Madowo and his CNN team released the documentary showing an exchange between police officers and civilians.
Madowo said the investigation was conducted responsibly, relying on verified sources, and aimed to shed light on events that might otherwise have remained hidden.
