Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has been at the forefront of calls on African countries to reduce their dependency on donors, faces a test of that resolve after the Trump administration said it intended to cut allocations to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

As CGTN's Farai Muwakutuya reports, cash-strapped Zimbabwe has been reliant on donor aid to meet humanitarian and social needs. Most recently, urgent food aid was needed to help almost a quarter of the population affected by last season's El Nino drought.

USAID funds half of the 4.3 million people facing starvation and supports programs in nutrition, health, water and sanitation and sustainable livelihoods. But this is likely to be scaled back with the impending cuts, spelling disaster for Zimbabwe's fragile social service delivery system, which is already feeling the pinch of a global recession.

"Those agencies that were benefiting from the aid will definitely be in a difficult situation. It looks like the opportunities are not many, so any reduction means you just have to go back to the drawing board and cut back on your ambitions or your targets. That's the most likely scenario,” said Virginia Muwanigwa, director of the Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre.

The humanitarian support has helped soften relations between Harare and Washington, which have been strained due to a stand-off over sanctions. A diminished US donor role could have a bearing on politics.

"If we look at Zimbabwe, the relationship was essentially based on the fact that America has taken an interest in the issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe and that has also given them leverage in the political discourses in Zimbabwe in terms of influencing the ruling party, in terms of influencing the opposition party. And if that aid is removed we may also see a decline in the influence of America in the political processes in Zimbabwe,” political analyst Rashweat Mukundu worried.

A clearer picture of how much Zimbabwe will miss out will emerge in May when further details are expected from Washington. Regardless of their magnitude, the intended cuts will leave many here at risk of being driven to the brink.