The Government of Zimbabwe says it has held talks with all parties involved in the dispute over Chewore Lodge, a fishing resort in the Zambezi Valley popular with tourists. Chewore Lodge is operated...
The Government of Zimbabwe says it has held talks with all parties involved in the dispute over Chewore Lodge, a fishing resort in the Zambezi Valley popular with tourists.
Chewore Lodge is operated by Terry Kelly in partnership with the landowner, National Parks. The resort is known locally as a fishing destination in the Zambezi Valley.
The dispute centres on a lease dating from 2010. In March 2025, High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi ruled that the 2010 lease was invalid.
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Judge Chitapi gave the operator until June 2025 to vacate the site, the court order said.
The operator appealed the High Court decision to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has recently ruled against the operator.
In response to the court rulings, the Government said it has engaged with the parties and that the Ministry is facilitating “an amicable resolution” that aligns with the law and the need to protect investment.
The Government statement did not provide further details on the timetable or specific next steps.
Why the Chewore lease was disputed
The talks followed litigation over whether the lodge's long-term lease had been validly approved. In a March 2025 judgment, the High Court found that ministerial concurrence under section 37 of the Parks and Wildlife Management Act was a mandatory step and that the absence of the required approval made the agreement invalid from the outset. The full High Court decision is available through ZimLII.
The Supreme Court later upheld the central finding. The parties identified in subsequent government-backed discussions were Suscaden Investments, Big Five Safaris and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The Environment Ministry said the purpose of the engagement was to encourage dialogue and seek a lawful, amicable resolution.
The dispute matters beyond one property because Chewore is part of the Zambezi Valley's tourism and conservation landscape. Its outcome affects the operation of an established fishing and safari destination while also testing how public authorities document and approve long-term tourism leases.
