Kigali — MTN Rwanda airtime distributors and vendors have since last week hiked airtime voucher cards citing increment in prices at which they purchase the cards from the company.

However, the mobile operator has come out strongly to denounce the illegal act and to send a warning to all its vendors and distributors against any price increment.

During a press conference that was convened yesterday by the management of MTN, the hike of tariffs was attributed to illegal and irresponsible dealings of some of the vendors who are charging the customers a premium above the face value of MTN airtime cards and vouchers.

"The management of MTN wishes to categorically state that there has been no increase in their tariffs," said Andrew Rugege, the company's Chief Operations Officer.

However, in a mini survey conducted by Business Times vendors and distributors decried MTN's position, saying that the company is the root cause of the problem following an increase in wholesale prices at which they purchase the cards from the cards.

"We are expected to sell the airtime at the old price yet the wholesale price has been increased this is not practical," a distributor at Kacyiru who preferred anonymity for the interest of his business said.

MTN cautioned the public not to pay more than the face value of the voucher card.

"We are working with our customers and internal security office to ensure that the vendors and distributors involved in this malpractice are reported and dealt with as the law stipulates," Rugege said.