School Paycheck Fraud Reported in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe —  This country’s Education Department has lost millions of dollars over the past six years because it continued to issue paychecks to teachers who quit, died or were fired, Zimbabwean officials said Thursday.

Officials said the funds were pocketed by local officials who did not report the staff changes to the Ministry of Education. The scandal came to light with the creation in April of a single teaching service for state and private schools, including church mission establishments, officials said.