Gamu: Home Office to reconsider

Gamu Nhengu and her family have been given a lifeline by the Home Office. They are allowed to stay in the UK while the Home Office reconsiders their case.

The family who lives in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland attended an immigration tribunal in Glasgow to appeal against moves to return them to Zimbabwe.

At he hearing last week a Home Office representative said the case would be reconsidered and a "fresh decision will be made in due course".

At the time of the X Factor auditions Ms Nhengu was allowed to stay in the country as a dependant while her mother studied at university.

But was later was ordered to return to Zimbabwe because her mother’s (Nokuthula Zganzana) visa application had been turned down.

The well supported X Factor contestant cause a stir when she was dropped from the show amid public accusations of judges race bias and favouritism.

After the hearing, the family's lawyer Frances Farrell said: "The family are pleased that the Home Office have withdrawn their decisions and decided to reconsider my clients' cases, and family are hopeful that they will now be granted leave to remain in the UK”.

It is believed that the Home Office decision will be made in weeks rather than months.