BULAWAYO – Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu was mobbed like a pop-star when he made a surprise appearance in a Bulawayo court on Saturday.

Court officials, security officers and members of the public fell over each other mobbing the lawyer for pictures.

Mpofu fought valiantly at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, August 22, trying to overturn President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s election victory on behalf of the popular opposition leader.

Mpofu lost that fight after the Constitutional Court ruled he had not presented sufficient evidence to have the result set aside, but it appears his eloquent stand for Chamisa in front of a rampaging Chief Justice Luke Malaba has made him an overnight cult hero.

His grasp of legalese in the televised hearing in which he deployed such words as “fulcrum”, “qui facit alium facit per se” and “pith” has already seen T-Shirts being printed immortalising the most watched court case in Zimbabwean history.

Fashion statements … T-shirts have been printed by enterprising Zimbabweans recording memories of famous court case

Mpofu was at the Tredgold Magistrates Court in Bulawayo to represent a Harare lawyer, Admire Rubaya, who is accused of obstructing the course of justice in an investigation into the theft of $1 million worth of gold from Plumtree Police Station.

Word spread fast that Advocate Mpofu was in the building, and dozens of court employees and members of the public were piling into Court 1.

“My turn now,” “next” and “move over” could be heard as the admiring crowds took turns to pose for pictures with the obliging legal star.

Memorable case … Thabani Mpofu posing in one of the T-Shirts printed after the famous Constitutional Court case

Advocate Mpofu downplayed his newfound celebrity status but expressed gratitude to Zimbabweans for lending him and his team their support.

He noted that he was happy to have represented millions of Zimbabweans whose hopes were pinned on the historic court case.

“A lot of sacrifice went into the matter, we did a lot of work in preparing for the case. A lot of resources went towards the case and I thank people for supporting our work,” he told ZimLive.com.

Advocate Mpofu also joked that all he needed after such a momentous case was some rest.

“I need to sleep for two days straight,” he joked.