Chewore Lodge Says Government Talks Failed, Prepares “Considerable Damage Claim” Against ZimParks

Chewore Lodge Owners To Sue ZimParks For Millions After Failed Government Talks

The operators of Chewore Lodge have revealed that government-led negotiations to resolve a bitter 15-year dispute have collapsed. With talks ended, the family is now preparing a substantial damages claim against the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and moving to appeal to the Constitutional Court.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, the lodge principal, Terry Kelly, laid bare the family’s exhaustion and disappointment. He confirmed that the negotiations, which began after a Supreme Court eviction order, have failed to deliver a solution.

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

From Crisis Talks Back To The Courtroom

The government had stepped in to mediate following public outrage over the Supreme Court’s January 2026 ruling. The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife announced on 15 January 2026 that it was engaging all parties to foster “an amicable resolution.” However, according to Kelly, these talks have now definitively broken down.

The family says it entered discussions in good faith, willing to compromise despite their desire to stay. Kelly stated:

“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.”

With that path closed, the battle returns to the courts. The family is preparing to appeal to Zimbabwe’s highest court.

“We are now in a position where we are preparing with our legal team to go the Constitutional Court,” Kelly confirmed. He added, “A considerable damages claim against the Authority, National Parks, is being prepared.”

A 15-Year Ordeal And A Family’s Heartbreak

The dispute centres on a 25-year lease signed in 2010. The Supreme Court voided it in January 2026, siding with former Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who denied authorising it. This was despite ZimParks having accepted rent for over a decade. The family has invested millions of US dollars into the lodge.

Kelly’s daughter, Laura Kelly, previously described the ordeal as “a bad dream that I keep trying to wake up from.” In her January 2026 social media posts, she alleged her father had faced abduction, false charges, and passport confiscation during the long conflict.

Terry Kelly’s latest statement speaks to the profound personal cost, extending beyond the family to their staff and community.

“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.”

Global Support Fuels Defiance

The Kellys say overwhelming global support has strengthened their resolve to continue the fight. They expressed deep gratitude for the public backing that followed the Supreme Court ruling.

“Over the last three of weeks, the global support we have received has been overwhelming — in ways that are difficult to explain,” Kelly noted. “It is extraordinary how strangers come together simply because they know what is right.”

With the negotiation route exhausted, the family pledges to use all remaining legal avenues.