CNN Has Insisted That Its Report On The Events Of October 29, 2025 In Tanzania Is Based Entirely On Evidence, Noting That It Did Not Publish Any Information That It Could Not Verify.
Speaking To SABC News, CNN Journalist Larry Madowo Said Their Investigation Was Conducted Using Interviews With More Than 100 Tanzanians, Forensic Analysis Of Audio, Video Comparisons, And Satellite Images To Track Incidents Of Violence, Deaths, And Allegations Of Mass Graves.
“We Worked Very Carefully. We Reviewed Every Piece Of Evidence We Received And Did Not Dismiss Any Information Without Its Verification. We Reviewed Every Video And Every Audio, And The Evidence Clearly Shows That Unarmed Civilians Were Shot By Police Or People With Guns,” He Said.
He Said No One Or Any Authority Has Denied The Veracity Of Their Reports Since They Were Made Public: “Since We Released This Report, No One Has Said That We Lied Or That We Wrote False Information.”
While CNN Said It Had Conducted A Thorough Investigation, The Tanzanian Government Through Its Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa Has Disputed The Report, Describing It As Flawed And Biased.
Speaking In Dar Es Salaam Over The Weekend, Msigwa Said The Review Of CNN’s Content Was Ongoing But Insisted That The Organization “Did Not Give Equal Opportunity To The Government.” He Said The CNN Reporter Did Not Contact Tanzanian Authorities And Used Cellphone Footage Without Following Due Process.
“They Did Not Follow Ethics. Journalism Should Be Inclusive. We Are Not Talking About The Deaths That Occurred; We Are All Saddened. But Why Create Content That Increases The Pain And Anger Of The People?” Msigwa Questioned, Adding,
“It Is Unethical To Publish Bad Images That Have Not Been Properly Verified. A Commission Has Been Formed To Investigate And Will Report. We Call On CNN To Come To The Government’s Side, Listen, And Publish Balanced And Factual Information.”