Veteran journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has launched a scathing attack on the Zimbabwean government for disrespecting property rights after 73-year-old investor Terry William Kelly lost a multi-million-dollar tourism investment following a Supreme Court of Zimbabwe ruling that cancelled his long-standing lease at Chewore Lodge.
The case has reignited serious debate around property rights, policy consistency, judicial independence and investor confidence in Zimbabwe.
What Happened to Chewore Lodge?
Kelly invested millions of US dollars into Chewore Lodge, a premium safari destination in the Zambezi Valley that attracts tourists from across the globe. He operated the lodge for 15 years through his company, Suscaden Investments, under two leases and a settlement agreement issued by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
During that time, the state accepted rental payments, recognised the lease as valid, and allowed Kelly to develop and run the business without interference.
Everything changed when the Supreme Court ruled that the 25-year lease was invalid, citing the absence of clear ministerial approval.
The Legal Twist
The disputed lease document carried the signature of former Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and a former ZimParks official confirmed it had been processed through official government channels. However, the former minister later denied signing the document.
Because the court could not establish proof that she personally signed it, the lease was declared void, despite the government having benefited from the agreement for years.
The ruling means Kelly now faces eviction without compensation, losing everything he invested due to failures within government systems that were entirely beyond his control.
Chin’ono: “This Is Daylight Robbery”
Reacting to the ruling, Chin’ono did not mince his words.
“This case is a textbook example of why property rights in Zimbabwe are meaningless in practice and why no serious investor, local or foreign, can ever feel safe,” he said.
He added:
“This is why real investors are not coming to Zimbabwe. The courts are ridiculously captured and there is no fairness or rule of law.”
Chin’ono went further, alleging political interference:
“I can bet my bottom dollar that someone in ZANU PF wants this property, and once they get it, they will run it down as they always do.”
In his view, the Kelly case sends a chilling message:
“An investor invests huge amounts of money, builds a business from the ground up, creates jobs, and then they just come and take it. What a joke. This is daylight robbery dressed up as law.”
‘Zimbabwe Is Open for Business’ – Reality or Rhetoric?
Since 2018, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has repeatedly promoted the slogan “Zimbabwe is open for business”, promising respect for property rights, legal certainty and investor protection.
The Kelly case now raises uncomfortable questions:
- Is this an isolated anomaly, or yet another example of rhetoric failing to match reality?
For many observers, the verdict reinforces long-held fears that investment security in Zimbabwe remains fragile, especially when political interests enter the picture.
As Zimbabwe pushes to attract foreign capital, the Chewore Lodge saga may stand as a cautionary tale, one that investors at home and abroad are unlikely to ignore.
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