Grace snub Bulawayo ZimAsset conference

First Lady Grace Mugabe failed to show up in Bulawayo today for the city's inaugural two day ZimAsset conference.

Grace had been billed as the guest of honor, leading a host of cabinet ministers. However, Bulawayo Metropolitan minister Eunice Sandi Moyo said Grace she has other commitments to attend to.

Sandi Moyo read Grace speech.

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko had to be roped in as guest of honour. The conference is run under the theme "Consolidating Bulawayo's Growth through Zim-Asset."

In her speech, Grace said the success of ZimAsset will be through national effort and should not be left to Govt alone.

She said Bulawayo is not spared from economic sanctions, corruption and industrialisation.

However, the revival of the city was linked to a fully functioning National Railways of Zimbabwe.

But NRZ is crippled by a two month long strike which is depriving it of $250,000 a day in potential revenue.

Officials say about $14 million has been lost as its workers continue their strike over unpaid wages.

Workers downed tools on March 29 after going unpaid for 15 months.