The Tanzanian government has strongly criticised international media, particularly CNN, over its reporting on the unrest following last month’s disputed presidential elections.

Speaking on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Tanzania’s government spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, said that the government was calling on foreign media to follow professional journalism standards.

“Kwa niamba ya serikali naomba kueleza yafuatayo. La kwanza, naomba kutoa wito kwa vyombo vya habari vya nje, kuzingatia maadili na misingi ya uadishi wa habari. Kwa kuchapisha habari zinazozingatia usawa, haki na uwajibikaji,” he said.

“Kuacha kuchapisha habari za upande mmoja. Zenye nia ovu kwa Watanzania na nchi yetu ya Tanzania. Serikali ipo tayari wakati wote kutoa ushirikiano kwa viombo vya habari vya ndani na nje ya nchi, pale watakapo taka taharifa.”

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Unprofessional

Msingwa also stated that it was unfair and unprofessional for media outlets to publish stories without giving the Tanzanian government a chance to respond.

“Naomba susisitiza, Sio haki, na sio sawa kwa chombo cha habari, kuchapisha taarifa za upande mmoja, na kisa kutoa sababu kuwa, maafisa wa serikali, walipotafutwa hawakupatikana,” Msingwa said.

“Kama ambayo chombo cha habari cha CNN kimechapisha taharifa zake zilizojaa tuhuma dhidi ya serikali ya Tanzania pasipo kutoa nafasi ya serikali kujibu. Kwa wanasheria, wana kanuni moja ya inaitwa the principle of the natural justice.”

“Huwezi ukazungumzia jambo linalomtuhumu, linalomzungumzia mtu, ama upande mmoja, alafu upande mwingine, ama mtu mwingine, usimpe nafasi ya kujibu. That is unproffesional.”

Msigwa also noted that other international media had engaged in similar practices.

“Kitendo kilichofanywa na CNN pia kimefanywa na vyombo vya habari vingine, natambua, BBC, Aljazeera, Deutsche Welle, wamefanya pia. naomba kusisitiza, sio sawa.”

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He urged media organisations to avoid interfering with the ongoing government inquiry into the unrest.

“La tatu, kwa kuwa rais ameunda tume huru ya uchunguzi, ni muhimu vyombo vya habari vikajiepusha kuingilia uchunguzi unaoendelea. Na kama kuna chombo cha habari kina taarifa ya uchunguzi kiliofanya, kiwasilishe katika tume ili taarifa hizo zizingatiwe katika ripoti pale tume itakapo kamilisha kazi yake.”

Protests, deaths under scrutiny

The criticism follows a CNN investigation led by Kenyan correspondent Larry Madowo, which documented police shootings of protesters and mass graves in Tanzania. The investigation included geolocated videos, audio forensic analysis, and witness accounts of unarmed civilians killed in the weeks after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was re-elected on October 29.

CNN reported that police opened fire on protesters across several towns, resulting in numerous casualties. Satellite imagery and videos showed disturbed soil consistent with mass graves in the Kondo cemetery near Dar es Salaam. The UN Human Rights Office suggested hundreds of protesters and civilians may have died, though official figures are unknown.

Madowo faced challenges covering the election, claiming on social media that he was denied accreditation and prevented from reporting inside Tanzania. Despite this, the CNN investigation compiled evidence from multiple sources, including verified videos showing bodies piled in morgues and on the streets.

Videos also documented plainclothes officers operating alongside uniformed police, opening fire on protesters in Dar es Salaam. A local sports management consultancy reported that seven young soccer players under their contracts were killed during the protests, with the bodies of six remaining unaccounted for.

The Tanzanian government has stressed the importance of professional reporting and criticised CNN and other foreign outlets for relying heavily on social media and satellite imagery without seeking the government’s perspective.

President Samia Suluhu has launched a formal Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande, to investigate the causes of the unrest, the role of political parties, and the involvement of local and foreign organisations.

During the launch on November 20, the president suggested some youths were paid to participate in the protests.

“Lakini kwa ufupi nataka kusema yafuatayo. Kwanza, nadhani tume tunaitarajia ikatuangalizie sababu hasa iliyoleta kadhia ile. Lakini jambo lile lilotokea, vijana waliingizwa barabarani kudai haki,” she said.

The president highlighted the need to understand whether the youths were genuinely seeking justice or were influenced by external actors.

“Lakini jingine tuangalie role, ya vyama vya siasa vilivyoingia kwa huo mgogoro. NGO zetu, za ndani na za nje, tunaambiwa ya kwamba vijana waliingia kudai haki. Walilipwa fedha kwanza, ndio wakaingia barabarani. Na wengi wao waliingia barabarani kwenda na hizo fedha walizopewa. Nje fedha zilitoka wapi? Kwa hivyo hayo tukayaangalie.”