Zim singer faces deportation from UK

, has been told to leave the UK together with her family or face deportation.

Nhengu, who impressed millions of viewers with her good voice, was the favourite to win the contest but was eliminated from the last three on Sunday because the production crew queried her status in England, where she lives with her mother and two siblings.

The 18-year-old had her dream shattered in the UK when her mother’s application for further stay in the UK was dismissed on the grounds that she violated certain laws. Now the singer can apply on her own to stay in that country if she so wishes as her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, has no grounds for appeal, according to UK papers yesterday, which added that the singer’s case had sparked a racial row in the UK.
She had proved popular with X Factor fans, who were outraged that she was excluded.
Speaking out for the first time on Monday since Sunday’s show, she said: “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 Daily Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status.
On Monday, thousands of viewers even threatened to boycott the show’s lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show.
However, immigration officials claimed that her mother, Ngazana, had received thousands of pounds worth of benefits while working as a nurse. 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.
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 29 August. Her children were allowed to stay as their mother’s dependants.
The family, who live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, reapplied to stay in the UK in August and up until Monday, they were waiting to hear the outcome.
The UK Border Agency told the Daily Mail: “The applications made by Miss Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules. Miss Ngazana’s 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. 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 Nhengu back to the show.
Adjudicator Cole (27), was said to be “really, really upset” after fans lashed out at her for not picking Nhengu as one of her three finalists. She felt unfairly targeted as she had been advised not to pick the hopeful as her “wild card” entry to join the live finals on Saturday.

Instead, Cole picked call centre worker Treyc Cohen, who auditioned for 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 public’s first chance to vote for their favourites.
Yesterday, on social networking sites, fans began to encourage others not to vote for two of Cole’s finalists, Katie Waissell (24), and Cher Lloyd (17).
However, British Prime Minister David Cameron has saved Nhengu from impending deportation, Zim diaspora reported last night.
The online publication said she will soon be issued with a visa to remain in Britain after PM Cameron waded in to the controversy that has drawn the wrath of millions of British music lovers, who loved her musical talent.

She is now on the brink of a dramatic return to the X Factor, thanks to some fans in very high places.
But thanks to Cameron’s interest in the show, Nhengu could be gifted a lifeline — and what many see as a big mistake can be fixed.