Government is set to modernise rural areas under the National Settlement and Sanitisation Programme (NSRSP) a cabinet minister has said. The NSRSP is in line with the ZANU PF 2018 People’s Manifesto which committed to the realignment of the service provision standards in all areas that include water reticulation, electricity, roads and other support infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. Speaking at the Matabeleland North Province’s NSRSP launch yesterday, the Minister of Housing and Social Amenities, Cde Daniel Garwe, said Government was geared towards improving rural infrastructure. Cde Garwe added that the modernisation of rural areas was key in decongesting over burdened urban centres. “We are aware of the problems being faced in urban areas which include deterioration of the sewer system, waste disposal mechanisms among other problems. “Due to overpopulation in the cities, the infrastructure has given in to the pressure as it has no capacity to withstand. That is why the Government is now going to provide the same housing facilities, road networks, sewer systems, green energy and Wi-Fi in rural areas,” said Cde Garwe. He implored potential investors to be part of the industrial revolution to modernise rural areas. “The Government is inviting investors to come and help in the development of rural areas, buy building business parks and shopping malls in modern construction architecture,” he said. Cde Garwe also disclosed that besides the local banking institutions, Government was working with two Pan African banks, Shelter Afrique and Afreximbank to roll out the ambitious NSRSP targeting both rural and urban centres. Furthermore, Cde Garwe underscored that the NSRSP was in line with the ZANU PF First Secretary and President E. D Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030. “President E. D Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 puts emphasis on the provision of human settlement that speaks to modernity, sustainability and affordability, the three pillars that speaks to the mandate of my ministry. In other words the Ministry of Housing and Social Amenities was created primarily to find solutions for housing and social amenities challenges,” said the minister.