Veteran investor Terry William Kelly (73) has lost control of Chewore Lodge, a renowned safari destination in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, after the Supreme Court ruled that a 25-year lease agreement was invalid.
Kelly invested millions of United States dollars into the development and operation of the high-end lodge, which attracts tourists from across the globe.
He managed Chewore Lodge for more than 15 years through his company, Suscaden Investments, operating under two lease agreements and a subsequent settlement issued by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
During this period, ZimParks accepted rental payments and treated the lease as legally binding, allowing Kelly to continue operating and expanding the lodge.
However, the courts later ruled that the lease was invalid on the grounds that it lacked clear approval from the responsible minister, a legal requirement under Zimbabwean law.
Although the lease document bore the signature of former Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and a former ZimParks official testified that the agreement was received through official government channels, Muchinguri-Kashiri denied signing the document.
With no definitive proof that she personally authorised the lease, the courts ruled against Kelly.
Critics argue that the judgment disregarded the doctrine of legitimate expectation, given that the government allowed Kelly to operate for years while benefiting from his investment and rental payments. Despite this, the Supreme Court dismissed the state’s long-standing acceptance of the lease and placed full liability on the investor.
As a result of the ruling, Kelly now faces eviction from Chewore Lodge without any compensation, effectively losing the millions of dollars he poured into the development of the property. The loss stems from what Kelly maintains was a failure within government administrative processes one entirely beyond his control.
The decision has raised fresh concerns within Zimbabwe’s tourism and investment sectors, with observers warning that it could undermine investor confidence in long-term projects that rely on state-issued leases and approvals.
