Larry Madowo’s decision to lead an investigation into the alleged killings that followed Tanzania’s disputed elections has drawn global attention.
The CNN international correspondent revealed that he and his team are preparing a special report to uncover what truly happened during the period of unrest.
His announcement has been met with mixed reactions from Tanzanians, many of whom view his involvement as a rare opportunity for the truth to be told after weeks of government silence and intimidation.
In his message shared on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Madowo made a heartfelt appeal to Tanzanians to help him document the events that unfolded during and after the elections.
“Tanzanians, I am asking for your help. We are preparing a CNN report about what happened during and after the elections,” he said.
The journalist noted that many local reporters had been denied the freedom to cover the chaos truthfully due to fear of state reprisals. He encouraged citizens who personally captured videos of the violence to share them privately, stressing that the footage must be original and not previously circulated.
“Many people have died because of these events, but many journalists in Tanzania have not been given the freedom to tell the truth. So please send me videos if you recorded what happened yourself,” he added.
Madowo made it clear that his goal is to gather authentic, verifiable evidence that could help the world understand the real scale of the unrest.
He said the upcoming CNN investigation would seek to amplify the voices of victims and witnesses whose experiences had been suppressed.
“So please send me videos if you recorded what happened yourself, and make sure it is not footage that was shared by someone else. Send it to me directly in my inbox. Help us investigate what really happened so that we can tell the world,” Larry said.
His remarks come amid increasing international concern about Tanzania’s post-election situation.
Reports of killings, arrests, and internet blackouts have sparked widespread condemnation.
The country’s opposition party, Chadema, claimed that more than 700 people were killed during the protests that erupted in major cities like Dar-es-Salaam and Mwanza.
The United Nations, however, placed the confirmed death toll at ten, though it admitted receiving credible reports of additional casualties.
The UN human rights office has since called on Tanzanian security agencies to avoid excessive use of force and to work toward restoring peace through dialogue.
The violent scenes followed a controversial election where several opposition leaders were blocked from contesting key positions, triggering anger among their supporters.
The demonstrations quickly spread across multiple regions, leading to clashes with security forces.
Witnesses reported gunfire, fires, and arbitrary arrests, while the government briefly shut down the internet, further limiting communication and media reporting.
Larry Madowo’s investigation is expected to shed new light on the human rights violations that may have occurred and hold those responsible to account. His appeal for evidence represents one of the few independent journalistic efforts aimed at piercing the government’s veil of secrecy. Many observers believe that the CNN report could become a turning point in understanding the true cost of Tanzania’s disputed election and the lives lost in the struggle for democracy.
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