CNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo. /FACEBOOKCNN International Correspondent Larry Madowo has dismissed as fake a viral Facebook post claiming he has received threats from senior individuals in Tanzania over his journalism work.
The post, written in poorly constructed Swahili and posted on Facebook handle 'Jafa Love Story', purports to show Madowo alleging that unnamed Tanzanian officials want him killed for exposing wrongdoing, and appealing for financial contributions through an NBC bank account.
“After receiving many threats and insults from some Tanzanians, I have decided it is better to visit my parents so they can at least give me their blessings," part of the post reads.
Madowo posted a screenshot of the message on X, captioning it simply: “This is not me.”
He did not issue further details, but the brief statement marked a clear denial of authorship amid growing misinformation targeting him in recent weeks.
The fabricated post appeared a week after Madowo ran an explosive CNN investigation alleging that Tanzanian police killed protesters in the aftermath of a disputed October 28 presidential election.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared winner with 98 per cent of the vote, but opposition figures and witnesses interviewed by CNN described a deadly crackdown marked by excessive force and disappearances.
The Tanzanian government strongly criticised CNN’s reporting in two separate press conferences.
Officials accused CNN of bias and misrepresentation but did not point to any specific falsehood in the documentary.
Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa issued a brief statement saying a detailed official response would follow after reviewing the expose.
Over a week later, authorities have neither released the promised rebuttal nor responded to follow-up questions submitted by the CNN team.
The investigation has drawn international attention to Tanzania’s human rights record, prompting political reactions abroad.
On November 27, members of the European Parliament voted to block certain EU funds to Tanzania and urged the European Commission to consider sanctions against individuals believed to be responsible for rights violations highlighted in the CNN report.
However, the parliamentary vote is not final; the Commission will ultimately decide whether to freeze funding or proceed with more extensive measures.
Against this backdrop, the fake fundraising post seeks to portray Madowo as a journalist fleeing imminent harm and soliciting money for his safety — a narrative sharply at odds with his own statement.
Madowo, one of the most prominent African voices in global broadcast journalism, has won the hearts of many Tanzanians over his reporting on the elections after the Tanzanian government barred local media from reporting any of the events.
At one point, Tanzanians ran an online campaign to change their profile pictures to Madowo's portrait as a show of gratitude.
But amid the show of appreciation, the outspoken journalist has also faced a fair share of online trolling and coordinated disinformation by individuals believed to be paid bloggers.
The latest fabrication underscores the increasingly sophisticated use of social media platforms to spread falsehoods and manipulate public sentiment following sensitive political reporting.
CNN has stood by its investigation, saying it interviewed dozens of witnesses, verified video evidence and cross-checked official statements before airing the expose.
Rights groups have also called for an independent inquiry into alleged abuses during and after the election.
As pressure builds both domestically and internationally, Tanzanian authorities are yet to release a death toll or speak about the killings, focusing instead on the scale of destruction witnessed during the protests.
