By Peter Saramba Ongiri

MWANZA, Tanzania 

Tanzanian President John Magufuli Friday afternoon dismissed nearly 10,000 civil servants, including high ranking officers, for forging or using other people’s academic certificates to obtain their current positions.

The dismissals came amid reports claiming the country has been losing at least $10 million a month in salaries and benefits to 19,708 ghost workers.

“Right from now, those public servants using forged or other people’s certificates are dismissed. Further actions including sending to court for forgery will follow,” said the president.

In a nationally televised public address from the administrative capital Dodoma, Magufuli also ordered an immediate salary suspension for 1,538 civil servants pending investigation.

The government is set to announce 60, 000 posts following its initial plans to recruit in the coming 2017/2018 financial year.