Tanzanian President John Magufuli fired almost 10,000 civil servants because they had forged their educational qualifications.

Magufuli made the announcement on state television after an investigative task force found that 9,932 government workers presented fake qualifications when they were employed.

The dismissed civil servants would have to defend themselves in court, the president said.

About 3,000 other civil servants were suspended while their certificates were being verified.