Zimbabwe police investigate top mobile phone firm

Police in Zimbabwe are investigating the country's biggest mobile phone operator, Econet Wireless, for suspected money laundering via fake subscriber accounts.

The company, founded by UK-based billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, has not yet commented.

The government has been at loggerheads with phone operators whom they accuse of bearing some responsibility for the country’s economic crisis.

According to a search warrant, police want Econet Wireless to disclose its customers' details and records of all transactions conducted over the last six months.

With some 10 million subscribers, that would be quite a tall stack of documents.

The police accuse the company of sabotaging the economy by creating fake customers in order to buy scarce foreign currency on the black market.

Zimbabwe’s central bank has made similar accusations before, which Econet has denied.

Critics say the government is looking for a scapegoat during the economic crisis that has seen inflation reach 785%.