Harare — THE Weatherman, that most unfortunate of the world's professionals, all too often comes under fire for sometimes less than accurate predictions of or "total misses" on climatic events.

In Zimbabwe's case, though, many might have a few gripes with the Weatherman this far into the winter season.

Suffice to say, the warning that people should "brace for a cold, wet winter season" (The Herald May 5, 2009) has not come out good, anyway.

The Met Office predicted that the unusual rains that had pounded the country would "last throughout the cold season".

But, by any standards, June, the month traditionally associated with the cold weather in Zimbabwe, has so far not been anything to write home about.

Neither were there significant rains since those days in May when the country received some torrents, which many people will testify the Weatherman dutifully warned them about.

The Weatherman's take was that Zimbabwe was in the grip of the "climate change" phenomenon.

Yet there is really little to celebrate about the Weatherman's less-than-accurate predictions, with the elements having been so benevolent, as the country safely negotiated what we have been told is statistically the coldest day of the year, June 21.

Recent events have shown that the country might have to grapple with much cold and a cold, dry winter for that matter.

And with the cold beginning to set in, we have also had to contend with erratic power supplies and major blackouts on one or two occasions.

Just recently, Zimbabwe was plunged into darkness as the electricity supply system went down and the country was forced to fall back on emergency supplies that were only good enough to cover the southern parts of the country and portions of the Midlands Province.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, the country's power utility, lost power supplies from Hwange and Kariba stations, while Mozambique's Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa and the Zambian power grid had "inexplicably" gone out.

The mishap was subsequently attributed to a technical challenge in Zambia where a "big" transformer reportedly broke down.

But that might only be a little more than a harbinger of what dark days lie ahead for many consumers of electricity.

Massive power disconnections are reportedly looming as the Government has given Zesa the green light to disconnect all customers who default on the payment of their bills.

The power utility thus reportedly gave an ultimatum to those in arrears to pay up before June 20 or risk being left in the dark cold.

There are indications that some electricity users have not paid their bills since February this year when foreign currency billing was formalised.

But the power utility, too, has come under fire for demanding "exorbitant" costs from domestic users.

The Government in February came in to support the consumers, with Energy and Power Development Minister Engineer Elias Mudzuri on February 25 instructing Zesa not to disconnect defaulters.

On May 12, the Government set "ceilings" for electricity charges.

The State announced flat charges of US$30 and US$40 for high-densityand low-density residential areas respectively for the months of February, March, April and May.

Eng Mudzuri urged customers to "disregard the exorbitant bills they are asked to pay", while he also ordered Zesa to withdraw bills that had been backdated to January.

Pragmatism has finally caught up.

"Government's reluctant permission to allow Zesa to start disconnecting customers in arrears makes sense," was the editorial comment in this paper's June 13 issue.

The decision came amid the reality that the parastatal owes regional suppliers over US$60 million, which led to genuine fears that the last blackout could have been disconnection by regional partners.

Zimbabwe needs about 2 389 megawatts daily, but has been generating plus or minus 1 700 megawatts, translating into a deficit of 689 megawatts, or 28,8 per cent, that has to be imported.

Hwange Thermal Power Station has literally been grounded following the shortage of coal, after it has failed to pay Hwange Colliery for supplies.

A newspaper report on June 14 said Zesa owed their Mozambican suppliers US$40,3 million; SNEL, a Democratic Republic of Congo concern, US$9,8 million; while it also owed its Zambian counterparts, Zesco, US$11,7 million.

Zesa reportedly owes a further US$5,1 million to EDM Power, another Mozambican power distribution company.

On the other hand, Zesa has only been seeing as little as US$5 million in revenue receipts from its estimated 560 000 domestic users.

And this seemingly suggests that Zesa could have few qualms in disconnecting its errant consumers as it tries to cut on its bill and ensure that its customers pay up.

And because load-shedding is the usual fallback, it may mean little letting up of last year's power woes.

Zimbabwe last year experienced severe power shortages owing to what was said to be growing consumption in the region, mainly attributed to industry in South Africa, especially in the context of preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be held in that country.

So far some parts of the country have started experiencing intermittent power interruptions.

In many parts of Harare and surrounding areas, electricity has become a virtually nocturnal phenomenon with supplies coming during those hours that one might associate with witchcraft, and blacking out just as the city snores its last.

Whatever wood poachers, who make quite a fortune out of such circumstances, might think, the situation is just about to turn ugly for many residents, and will be uglier still for defaulters.

But it may turn out to be not only a dark, cold winter for some defaulters.

It might be a dry one, too.

The Sunday Mail of June 14, 2009, reported that the Harare City Council had begun cutting water supplies to defaulting residents.

This, the paper said, was in defiance of a February directive by the Minister of Water Resources, Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.

Council reportedly cut off some households in Mufakose, Kuwadzana and Marimba recently over non-payment of bills.

But to be cut off takes an entirely different shade, if not to the point of ridiculousness, when it comes to the capital's eastern and northern suburbs.

In fact, residents in parts of Chadcombe, Park Meadowlands, Epworth, Greendale, Eastlea, Msasa Park, Hatfield, Mabvuku, and Hatcliffe say they have never had water for up to two years and were "shocked" to see bills being delivered to them recently.

The residents have to rely on boreholes, water bowsers, and even unprotected wells for water.

In one particular area, Hatcliffe, the business of selling water is not uncommon.

But the authorities have said billing the non-consuming residents is necessary to help restore normal supplies. The thirsty residents have been asked to pay around US$10.

Water reticulation has been a nightmare due to a number of factors,that include aging infrastructure and lack of foreign currency for operational costs.

This means residents might still have to do without council water for a little while longer. Those caught on the wrong side of their electricity bills might have to seriously consider other sources of energy.

The Weatherman could have been accurate after all -- this could be a very dark and cold winter.