GOVERNMENT has opened talks with stakeholders involved in the long-running dispute over Chewore Safari Lodge, a high-end tourism property in the Zambezi Valley, in a bid to reach an amicable resolution following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified its 25-year lease.
In a joint statement, the Environment, Climate and Wildlife ministry and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) said they met with Suscaden Investments (owned by veteran safari operator Terry William Kelly), Big Five Safari Lodges and ZimParks.
The dispute over Chewore Safari Lodge has sparked concern in Zimbabwe’s tourism and investment sectors, highlighting potential risks for long-term State-issued leases. With millions invested and livelihoods at stake, the outcome will test government’s ability to balance legal compliance with safeguarding strategic tourism assets.
Officials described the discussions as “constructive,” noting that all parties are committed to resolving the matter fairly, quickly and in line with legal and policy frameworks.
The controversy stems from a Supreme Court ruling that upheld earlier High Court findings that the 2010 lease agreement between Suscaden Investments and ZimParks was invalid.
The court found that the lease lacked clear, proven approval from the responsible minister, even though the document bore a signature that appeared to be that of former Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri and ZimParks had accepted rent and treated the lease as legitimate for more than a decade.
As a result, 73-year-old Kelly, who has run Chewore Safari Lodge for about 15 years and invested millions of dollars in its development, now faces eviction without compensation.
Despite the legal setback, the government said Zimbabwe “remained open for business,” reaffirming its commitment to promoting, facilitating and protecting both local and foreign investments.
It added that the ongoing dialogue aims to balance the need to uphold legal requirements with the desire to safeguard a tourism asset that attracts visitors from around the world and contributes to conservation and local employment.
Meanwhile, Kelly’s family had earlier last week indicated it would take the matter to the Constitutional Court, seeking what it described as “justice” for a business it built from the ground up.-herald
