Govt steps in to resolve Chewore Safari Lodge lease dispute

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.

This story is for NewsDay subscribers.