By George Banda
In the quiet streets of Neno District, Loveness Chingwalu stands in the once-busy courtyard of her lodge, now echoing with silence. Tables that once played host to several organisations and their staff, especially health workers and project teams, now sit empty. The laughter and conversations that fuelled her hospitality business have faded since early 2025.
“This place was alive…vehicles coming and going, people staying for trainings, workshops or field visits. Now, it’s quiet,” Chingwalu said, gesturing in the vacant space.
Nearby, in his welding shop, Sam Nyambi shared similar sentiments. His workshop once thrived on repairs for Non-Governmental Organisations’ fleets and other materials tied to development initiatives.
“Those jobs were steady,” Nyambi recalled. “Now, the vehicles aren’t moving as much, and the contracts have dried up, it’s been tough,” he added.
Such is the impact that the foreign aid cuts by the United States Government have had in some of the districts in Malawi. Neno happens to be one of them.
It had, for long, fed off donor-supported development initiatives to help breathe life into its rural growth centre but now feels the shockwaves of the broader U.S. policy shifts.
The loss of jobs and retrenchments of staff in some of the organisations in the district reduced demand for local goods, services and accommodation.
Executive Director of Partners in Health in Malawi, which operates in the district, Basimenye Nhlema, acknowledges that the funding shifts by the donor have forced difficult adjustments but stresses on the need for unity.
“We must come together; government, communities and remaining partners to address this gap.
“Collaboration is key to sustaining the progress we’ve made in health and development,” Nhlema added.
Neno District Commissioner Alfred Hauya offered reassurance that local businesses and the district can weather the storm through resilience and increased government support. Hauya pointed to ongoing efforts in infrastructure, health service delivery and community initiatives, urging stakeholders to prioritise sustainable, locally driven solutions.
“Businesses will continue to prosper despite the aid cuts,” Hauya said.
He also highlighted the hardworking spirit of Neno residents and the potential for government interventions to bridge immediate shortfalls. At least, for now, this brings some reassuring hope to entrepreneurs like Chingwalu and Nyambi that life will have to go on and somehow be re-injected in their businesses.
