After a four-month hiatus, Zimbabwe’s former ruler Robert Mugabe has returned to claim a central position in the country’s topsy-turvy politics.

The 94-year-old veteran politician, who ruled his country for 37 years since Independence from Britain in 1980, fell dramatically in November last year, after he was put under house arrest by the military before resigning under pressure from his own party and the opposition.

But when everyone appeared to have written him off, a rejuvenated Mugabe sprang a surprise on March 15, declaring his ouster a military coup.

His successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who appears destined for victory in elections expected between July and August, is facing a complicated hurdle after his mentor threatened to back the opposition.

Mr Mugabe has demanded dialogue with the new administration to address what he believes were constitutional breaches during his removal from office by the military.

“If he does not want to have the situation corrected, we will have to wait for the coming elections,” he told journalists in his first interview since stepping down on November 21.

Analysts say the veiled threats marked Mr Mugabe’s return to politics with a sole objective of torpedoing President Mnangagwa’s election. 

“He is already making an impact,” said Southern African Political Economy (Sapes) Trust director Dr Ibbo Mandaza. “He is behind not only the National Patriotic Front, but also liaising with the opposition, including MDC presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa.”

A fortnight ago, a former Cabinet minister and respected veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation war, Brigadier General (rtd) Ambrose Mutinhiri resigned from Zanu PF and parliament, saying he did not agree with the militarisation of the party.

In his scathing resignation letter, Brig-Gen Mutinhiri cited constitutional violations, accused President Mnangagwa of humiliating Mugabe and vowed to join those fighting to bring democracy to Zimbabwe. A day later, he was unveiled as the leader of the NPF, a party that was formed by the former president’s close associates and has stated that one of its objectives is to restore his legacy.

Mr Mugabe has given the new party tacit backing, raising speculation that he is eyeing a political comeback, and the NPF has provided him a springboard.

But NPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said, “Mugabe has not returned to politics but has just made his political preferences very clear. We are pleased that he has chosen to endorse our party. We believe such an endorsement is massive, considering the millions, especially among the rural electorate, where his pro-people agrarian and indigenisation policies empowered families and communities.”

Mr Mugabe won the last presidential elections against long-time rival, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, by 61 per cent. He also led his Zanu-PF to an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections, a feat some believed was an indication the experienced politician remained popular especially in rural areas.

Mr Tsvangirai, who succumbed to cancer of the colon last month after giving Mr Mugabe a tough run in elections held since 2000, described the 2013 election result as a “coup by the ballot.”

But Dr Alex Magaisa, a former adviser to the opposition leader during his time as prime minister in a power-sharing arrangement between 2009 and 2013, said Mugabe is overestimating his influence.

“Mugabe underestimates the revulsion with which he is held by many Zimbabweans,” he wrote. “He has not quite grasped the depth of resentment, which was on display on November 18, 2017, when thousands marched against him. He thinks they were just opposition supporters.”