Gamu Nhengu faces Home Office visa appeal

A decision to allow former X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu and her family to stay in Scotland is to be challenged by the Home Office. An immigration court ruling on 11 May overturned an order that the family should return to Zimbabwe. But UK Border Agency officials confirmed they would be appealing that decision.

The singer’s mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, originally had her visa renewal turned down in August 2010. Gamu was allowed to stay in the country as a dependant while her mother studied at university. The 19-year-old singer’s family have lived in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, for several years after coming to Scotland from Zimbabwe.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are appealing the decision. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage of the proceedings. The UK Border Agency considers every case carefully and where we do not believe someone has the right to stay in the country, and does not require our protection, we expect them to return home.”

The family’s lawyer, Frances Farrell, was not available to comment on the Home Office’s decision to appeal. Last week, Mrs Farrell said the family were “delighted” at the court’s ruling to allow them to stay, and said she hoped the Home Office would not exercise its right to appeal.

She went on to become a household name when X Factor judge Cheryl Cole failed to put her through to the live shows, favouring Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel. Gamu’s mother’s visa expired in August 2010 and the family’s application to remain was initially rejected as “out of time” by the Home Office. BBC