Gamu Nhengu powers into X Factor live finals

By Esther Gomo

Zimbabwean X Factor favourite Gamu Nhengu will be among 32 acts that have been selected to take part in the live finals of the hit British talent show.

More than 100 X Factor hopefuls took part in the boot camp performances over the weekend judged by Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and guest panellist Nicole Scherzinger.

Teenager Nhengu originally from Zimbabwe reduced judge Louis Walsh to tears with her performance of Adele’s You Make Me Feel My Love.

The bookies favourite to win the show however admitted afterwards, “I’ve never seen so many good singers ever, and it’s anybody’s game.”

Nhengu will now be mentored by judge Cheryl Cole along with the other girls Katie Waissel, Raquel Thomas, Kerry, TreyC Cohen, Annastasia Baker, Rebecca Ferguson and Cher Lloyd.

Meanwhile Nhengu has said reports about her family being threatened with deportation over expired visas made her a target for vindictive X Factor fans online.

She said: “People have called me an illegal immigrant and I have lost a lot of fans over this. It has been a stressful experience. Our visas were coming up for renewal, they hadn’t been turned down. It should be done within three weeks.”