Chewore Lodge and Campsite

07/02/2026

To everyone who has rallied behind us and supported us, please , we invite you to sign and share the petition below with your family, friends and groups.❤️

We, the undersigned citizens and supporters of justice, conservation, and lawful governance, respectfully appeal for Your Excellency’s intervention in the matter concerning the eviction of Chewore Lodge from the Chewore Safari Area.For more than two decades, Chewore Lodge has operated under leases...

05/02/2026

It has been almost 15 years of either being in court or in negotiations, trying to resolve this matter.

This process led us to the Supreme Court, where we received, what is in my opinion, a shocking judgment, evicting us. After that, the Ministry stepped in to try and facilitate an amicable settlement. For the sake of peace, we all agreed to try and find a solution — a way out of this chaos and a way to finally end these ongoing, unnecessary legal battles we were dragged into, that consume our lives.
Unfortunately, those negotiations have now come to an end with no solution achieved. What was offered was certainly not even close to a resolution, and sadly, we had no choice but to decline. We entered those negotiations with an open mind, good faith and a willingness to be flexible. Even though we have never wanted to leave our beloved Chewore, we were prepared to compromise if it meant finding a solution and bringing this long, unjust fight to an end.
Sadly, that was not to be. We are now in a position where we are preparing with our legal team to go the Constitutional Court. Are we confident that justice will prevail? Our experience dictates, sadly not, but we will exhaust all legal means to hold on to our rights.
A considerable damages claim against the Authority, National Parks, is being prepared and we pray that something positive comes from these processes.
If, in the end, we lose Chewore, our entire family, from my youngest grandchild, our children, our incredible team of guys and their families, and the many Zimbabweans and clients that frequent Chewore, Diane and I, will be absolutely heartbroken.
Over the last three of weeks, the global support we have received has been overwhelming — in ways that are difficult to explain. Support from all walks of life from Zimbabwe and the world, support questioning our judiciary, our institutions and individuals. Justifiably so. It is extraordinary how strangers come together simply because they know what is right. It is truly a beautiful thing.
The way strangers have rallied behind us, restored our faith in humanity and in connection.
And so, on that note, we as the Kelly family just want to say thank you Zimbabwe and all the folks from around the world that took time to care. There is still so much good out there.
We will continue with this struggle until there is absolutely nowhere left to go. Because it is right.
-Terry Kelly.

20/01/2026

To our fellow Zimbabweans and the global community, we extend our deepest gratitude. On behalf of the Kelly family, we wish to express heartfelt appreciation to each individual for their messages, calls, and prayers of support, which have been a significant source of comfort during this challenging period.🙏

We have undertaken with the Ministry and Honourable Ambassador T. Chifamba, who is chairing the ongoing talks, not to engage with the press during this process, and we intend to fully honour that commitment. We will be issuing a statement at the end of these discussions.
Once again, one and all, thank you. 🇿🇼

14/01/2026

The first image is the ‘camp’ in 2010 when we fist signed into a Joint Venture with National Parks.

The image underneath is what it is today, but today they say that we “don’t have a lease”.

We paid rental between these images, and we have built this.

14/01/2026

Zim Breaking News :The Supreme Court has upheld the eviction of veteran entrepreneur Terry William Kelly from the prestigious Chewore Lodge, ending a bitter 15-year tenure and a protracted legal battle.

The court’s decision, delivered by Justice Chiweshe on Friday, affirms a 2024 High Court ruling that invalidated the 25-year lease agreement between Kelly’s company, Suscaden Investments (Private) Limited, and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).

At the heart of the dispute was a critical technicality: the absence of a minister’s signature. The Supreme Court concurred with the High Court’s finding that the lease, under which Suscaden has operated the lodge and campsite for 15 years across two successive agreements, did not comply with Section 37 of the Parks and Wildlife Management Act.

Justice Chiweshe declared that Suscaden “failed to provide clear evidence” that the former Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, had personally approved the lease. This was despite the lease document bearing what appeared to be her signature.

“The court rejected Suscaden's argument that ZIMPARKS' acceptance of rentals and treatment of the lease as valid for 5 years stopped the respondents from challenging its legality,” the judgment read.

The case, which pitted Suscaden against ZimParks, the Ministry of Environment, and rival safari operator Big Five Safaris, took a bizarre turn during proceedings. Minister Muchinguri denied ever signing the document.

The legal defeat caps a period of intense hardship for the 73-year-old Kelly, who invested millions transforming Chewore into a high-end tourism hub in the Zambezi Valley, catering to an international clientele.

His troubles escalated in 2023 when he was controversially arrested and detained for days over allegations of stealing a motion-sensor camera worth US$50. Kelly had found the camera, left as bait in a prohibited hunting area, and attempted to report it. He claimed ZimParks rangers at Chewore refused to accept it or investigate, with one allegedly stating, "It's Billy's, we can't go there," a reference believed to point to Billy Rautenbach, owner of rival Big Five Safaris.

After prosecutors in Guruve initially declined to prosecute, calling it a non-issue, Kelly was shockingly arrested weeks later in a night-time operation. He was transported on a dangerous, forbidden 50km boat ride through Mapata Gorge on a vessel belonging to Big Five Safaris, then driven to Harare, charged, and detained. He was later acquitted, with magistrates finding no substance to the allegations.

With the Supreme Court’s ruling, Kelly now faces the total loss of his multi-million dollar investment as an eviction order is set to be executed. The judgment sends a chilling message to investors about the precarity of long-term agreements and the paramount importance of ministerial endorsement, regardless of years of operational history and financial commitment.

14/01/2026

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zimbabwe/how-a-tourism-investor-lost-millions-of-dollars-in-zimbabwe/

A tourism investor faces millions in losses after Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court overturned a 25-year lease on a popular safari destination.