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Kicked off X Factor, now Gamu and her family are told to leave the U
Last updated at 11:38 AM on 6th October 2010
But last night, Gamu Nhengu was having to face up to a future without her dream and without those friends too.
The 18-year-old singer was told on Sunday that she had missed out on a place in the live finals of the ITV talent show.
And yesterday she was told she must leave Britain altogether. Her family have just days to return to their home country of Zimbabwe or face deportation.
The final blow: Gamu Nhengu has been ordered to return to Zimbabwe after the family's visa application was refused by immigration officials
It is a bitter blow for Miss Nhengu, who appeared so carefree when she posed with a group of girls before a ball in July.
She had proved popular with X Factor fans, who were outraged that she was excluded.
Speaking out for the first time since Sunday's show, she said yesterday: 'Thank you so much to everyone. I'm overwhelmed by the support. The whole experience has been amazing and I'm doing fine.
'I've been overwhelmed by the response.'
ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status.
Gamu's photo album: The singer pictured joking with a friend in July
Enlarge
Star quality: A glamorous Gamu poses with friends as they prepare to go to a dance in July
Toasting success: The ambitious teen has long been dreaming of making it to the X Factor final
Yesterday, thousands of viewers even threatened to boycott the shows lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show.
However, immigration officials claimed that her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, had received thousands of pounds worth of benefits while working as a nurse.
Facing deportation: Gamu's mother Nokuthula has been working as a nurse after training at Stirling University
Miss Ngazana, 38, is believed to have claimed child tax credit and working tax credit during her eight-year stay in the UK.
Under immigration rules, she is not allowed to have access to benefits and must support herself and her family on her own.
Furthermore, the family have no right of appeal and Miss Nhengu cannot apply for a visa just for herself.
The singer moved to Scotland with her two brothers, 11 and nine, after their mother began studying at Stirling University and qualified as a nurse.
Her mother was allowed to stay in the UK under the Fresh Talent scheme and had the right to stay until August 29. Her children were allowed to stay as their mothers dependants.
The family, who live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, reapplied to stay in the UK in August and up until yesterday, they were waiting to hear the outcome.
The UK Border Agency told the Mail: The applications made by Miss Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules.
Miss Ngazanas application was refused as it did not meet all of the conditions for approval. Her family, who had applied as her dependants, were therefore also refused.
Wild card woes: Gamu has lost out on the chance of a recall to Treyc Cohen
Where people are found to have no right to remain in the UK we expect them to leave voluntarily.
Even before that decision, X Factor bosses had no plans to bring Miss Nhengu back to the show.
Mrs Cole, 27, was said to be really, really upset after fans lashed out at her for not picking Miss Nhengu as one of her three finalists.
She felt unfairly targeted as she was also advised not to pick the hopeful as her wild card entry to join the live finals on Saturday.
Holed up: This is the very modest apartment block where Gamu lives with her family
Instead, Mrs Cole has picked call centre worker Treyc Cohen, who auditioned for the X Factor last year, but was rejected by Simon Cowell.
On Saturday, 12 finalists and the wild card contestants will perform live for the first time in front of a TV audience of millions. It will be the publics first chance to vote for their favourites.
Yesterday, on social networking sites, fans began to encourage others not to vote for two of Mrs Coles finalists, Katie Waissell, 24, and Cher Lloyd, 17.
Do you have a story about an X Factor contestant? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard and X Factor bosses were last night said to be investigating death threats levelled at Cheryl over the controversy.
According to the Sun, one threat carried the warning: 'Every1 has a bullet for you' and continued that the singer had made 'the biggest mistake of her life'.
The message, sent from Tottenham, north London, and sent out across the UK via Blackberry Messenger, continued that if he couldn't get to Cheryl, he would 'bang drop' any girl he finds with the same name.
The message - signed off with the street name Supa Capone - ends with the words 'Find Me'.
In August, a man was jailed for levelling another death threat at the singer.
Alan Linton, 32, also threatened to blow up a football stadium and admitted threatening to carry out a terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport and to kill young girls in a primary school.
He was jailed for two years.
GAMU'S LIFE IN PICTURES...
At ease on stage: Gamu singing with a choir in her early days as a performer
Music fan: Gamu Nhengu with Rochelle Wiseman of The Saturdays
Playing up for the camera: Gamu poses with a pair of specs
Fun with friends: A happy snap with a pal
DIY photo shoot: Gamu puts her megawatt smile on show
Last updated at 11:38 AM on 6th October 2010
- Border agency decided yesterday family must go home to Zimbabwe
- Mother's benefit claims broke rules of immigration visa - and there is no right of appeal
- Police probe death threats made to Cheryl Cole over controversy
But last night, Gamu Nhengu was having to face up to a future without her dream and without those friends too.
The 18-year-old singer was told on Sunday that she had missed out on a place in the live finals of the ITV talent show.
And yesterday she was told she must leave Britain altogether. Her family have just days to return to their home country of Zimbabwe or face deportation.
It is a bitter blow for Miss Nhengu, who appeared so carefree when she posed with a group of girls before a ball in July.
She had proved popular with X Factor fans, who were outraged that she was excluded.
Speaking out for the first time since Sunday's show, she said yesterday: 'Thank you so much to everyone. I'm overwhelmed by the support. The whole experience has been amazing and I'm doing fine.
'I've been overwhelmed by the response.'
ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status.
Enlarge
Star quality: A glamorous Gamu poses with friends as they prepare to go to a dance in July
Toasting success: The ambitious teen has long been dreaming of making it to the X Factor final
Yesterday, thousands of viewers even threatened to boycott the shows lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show.
However, immigration officials claimed that her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, had received thousands of pounds worth of benefits while working as a nurse.
Miss Ngazana, 38, is believed to have claimed child tax credit and working tax credit during her eight-year stay in the UK.
Under immigration rules, she is not allowed to have access to benefits and must support herself and her family on her own.
Furthermore, the family have no right of appeal and Miss Nhengu cannot apply for a visa just for herself.
The singer moved to Scotland with her two brothers, 11 and nine, after their mother began studying at Stirling University and qualified as a nurse.
Her mother was allowed to stay in the UK under the Fresh Talent scheme and had the right to stay until August 29. Her children were allowed to stay as their mothers dependants.
The family, who live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, reapplied to stay in the UK in August and up until yesterday, they were waiting to hear the outcome.
The UK Border Agency told the Mail: The applications made by Miss Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules.
Miss Ngazanas application was refused as it did not meet all of the conditions for approval. Her family, who had applied as her dependants, were therefore also refused.
Wild card woes: Gamu has lost out on the chance of a recall to Treyc Cohen
Where people are found to have no right to remain in the UK we expect them to leave voluntarily.
Even before that decision, X Factor bosses had no plans to bring Miss Nhengu back to the show.
Mrs Cole, 27, was said to be really, really upset after fans lashed out at her for not picking Miss Nhengu as one of her three finalists.
She felt unfairly targeted as she was also advised not to pick the hopeful as her wild card entry to join the live finals on Saturday.
Instead, Mrs Cole has picked call centre worker Treyc Cohen, who auditioned for the X Factor last year, but was rejected by Simon Cowell.
On Saturday, 12 finalists and the wild card contestants will perform live for the first time in front of a TV audience of millions. It will be the publics first chance to vote for their favourites.
Yesterday, on social networking sites, fans began to encourage others not to vote for two of Mrs Coles finalists, Katie Waissell, 24, and Cher Lloyd, 17.
Do you have a story about an X Factor contestant? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard and X Factor bosses were last night said to be investigating death threats levelled at Cheryl over the controversy.
According to the Sun, one threat carried the warning: 'Every1 has a bullet for you' and continued that the singer had made 'the biggest mistake of her life'.
The message, sent from Tottenham, north London, and sent out across the UK via Blackberry Messenger, continued that if he couldn't get to Cheryl, he would 'bang drop' any girl he finds with the same name.
The message - signed off with the street name Supa Capone - ends with the words 'Find Me'.
In August, a man was jailed for levelling another death threat at the singer.
Alan Linton, 32, also threatened to blow up a football stadium and admitted threatening to carry out a terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport and to kill young girls in a primary school.
He was jailed for two years.
GAMU'S LIFE IN PICTURES...
