Larry Madowo Clarifies Allegations Of Being Paid To Tarnish Tanzania’s Government Amid Protests

CNN journalist Larry Madowo was forced to issue a public clarification on Sunday, December 7, amid swirling online reports alleging he had been sponsored to engage in a smear campaign against the Tanzanian government.

The vocal journalist took to social media to firmly dismiss circulating images and narratives suggesting he was affiliated with powerful foreign forces intent on crippling Tanzania economically following the disputed October 29 elections.

“I haven’t been paid by anyone to tarnish anyone’s name. Bongo has failed to defend themselves against my recent report, and they’ve now decided to attack me with lies,” Madowo said on Sunday.

He insisted that the focus should be on the substance of his reporting, not baseless personal attacks. “Instead of correcting anything in the report, they are using insults and rumours that I have met with people,” he continued. Madowo further cautioned social media users to be vigilant, claiming that AI-generated images were being used to tarnish his name.

Backlash Follows Documentary

Madowo has attracted significant controversy in Tanzania over the past month, particularly after the broadcast of his tell-all documentary on the post-election crisis in the East African nation. The investigative report alleged the existence of mass graves where victims of protests and police brutality were buried to conceal the true extent of the post-poll violence.

The renowned journalist had earlier claimed he was denied journalistic accreditation and entry into Tanzania to cover the elections, leading to his subsequent reporting from outside the country.

Initially, Madowo received widespread, and often surprising, support from Tanzanian locals who commended his work for highlighting their plight following the controversial polls, which saw Samia Suluhu win virtually unopposed.

However, in recent weeks, support for the journalist has appeared to wane among certain sections of Tanzanians. This shift in sentiment occurred particularly after images surfaced on social media appearing to link Madowo with controversial activist Maria Sarungi, known as one of the fiercest critics of the Suluhu administration.