CNN journalist Larry Madowo was on Sunday, December 7 forced to issue a clarification amid reports that he has been sponsored to engage in a smear campaign against Tanzania.
The vocal journalist took to social media to dismiss circulating images online, suggesting that he was affiliated with powerful forces who are allegedly keen on crippling Tanzania economically using the recently concluded 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.
"Instead of correcting anything in the report, they are using insults and rumours that I have met with people," he continued. The CNN journalist insisted that AI images are being used to tarnish his name, and urged users to be keen.
Madowo has developed an infamous reputation in neighbouring Tanzania over the past month, particularly after his tell-all documentary on the post-poll crisis in the East African nation.
In the documentary, it was alleged that there was a site of mass graves where victims of the protests and police brutality were buried to mask the extent of the killings.
Madowo had earlier taken to social media to claim he previously attempted to report from Tanzania on the polls but was denied journalistic accreditation and was thus unable to enter the country as a journalist.
Initially, the renowned journalist received surprise backing from Tanzanian locals, who commended his work in highlighting their plight after the controversial elections, where Samia Suluhu won practically unopposed.
However, in recent weeks, sections of Tanzanians appeared to have turned on the journalist, particularly after images emerged on social media appearing to suggest Madowo was in cohorts with controversial activist Maria Sarungi, who is one of the fiercest critics of Suluhu's regime.
Kenyans.co.ke has since established that the images doing rounds on social media, purporting that Madowo was in a meeting with Sarungi, were AI generated.
Amid an onslaught from Tanzanians online, Madowo has stuck with his documentary, insisting that the Tanzanian government has done little to dispute claims in his report.
Meanwhile, Pressure continues to pile on Suluhu as the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for an independent investigation into the alleged human rights violations in the East African nation during the October 29 elections.
Tanzania has since responded, stating that it would establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the reported post-election violence and produce a comprehensive report on the same.
