In an Instagram video posted on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Madowo revealed the dangerous environment in which the investigation was conducted.
Madowo said Tanzanians who witnessed the chaos during the 2025 post-election protests risked arrest, intimidation, and violence simply for sharing the truth.
“Tanzanians risked their lives to speak to me for our CNN investigation… We only reported what we carefully verified and can prove,” he said, calling out online trolls trying to discredit the documentary.
Despite the social media backlash, Madowo noted that no one has pointed out a single lie in the report.
According to Madowo:
Many people lost their lives during the protests
The government released no official reports
Anyone reporting or sharing evidence risked arrest, as the government had criminalised discussing the violence
He stated that the CNN team spoke to over 100 Tanzanians, including activists, journalists, and eyewitnesses.
These individuals shared videos, photos, and first-hand accounts, all while knowing the consequences could be severe.
Madowo emphasised that the footage received wasn’t rushed to air. CNN’s investigative team spent weeks authenticating videos, verifying timestamps, locations, and testimonies to ensure accuracy.
He had earlier asked Tanzanians to send him videos of police brutality during the election chaos, hoping to expose what was happening on the ground while local journalists remained silenced.
During the 2025 general election:
Tanzania’s government restricted internet access
Journalists were blocked from reporting
Media houses faced intimidation
Police allegedly operated without accountability
Human rights groups and the opposition say this blackout allowed the violent crackdown on protesters to happen, hidden from the world.
On Friday, November 21, Madowo and the CNN team released a harrowing documentary, showing police clashing with civilians, injured protesters, and evidence of lethal force.
The footage ignited national and international conversations and immediate pushback from the Tanzanian government.
Yet, Madowo insists the report stands strong: “We relied on verified sources… Our goal was to reveal what would otherwise stay hidden.”
