By Christine Lavelle
X Factor star Gamu Nhengu and her family are still in an agonising wait to find out whether or not they will be allowed to stay in Scotland.
It was thought the 18-year-old’s family, who live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, would find out today (Mon) about their fate, but it has been revealed they may now have to wait until the end of the week.
They have been faced with the possibility that they may be deported to their native Zimbabwe since it came to light that her mother’s visa had expired and would not be extended.
Last week they lodged an appeal to an immigration court in a bid to overturn the Home Office ruling.
Solicitor Frances Farrell, who is representing the singer’s mother Nokuthula Ngazana, said: “Basically, what we are waiting for now is for a judge to say yes or no.
“If they decide that we are right, then there will be a hearing in Glasgow on the issues arising from this case within about six to eight weeks.
“But if they say no, we would have to consider applying to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a judicial review.
“It is our hope that we can go through the tribunal procedure because then our client and Gamu can get their lives back in order.
Limbo
“If we have to go down the avenue of a judicial review at the Court of Session then our client may not be able to go back to work and Gamu may not be able to revive her career, so there are important issues at stake here.
“This could take a year or longer and would leave the family in total limbo and that’s what we’re trying to avoid.
“We had hoped the family would find out which direction it would go in today (Mon) but it is looking now like it may be the end of the week before we hear anything.”
Gamu, her mother, and brothers Milton, 12, and Marty, 10, fled Zimbabwe five years ago, hoping to make a better life for themselves.
Their plight has been very much in the public eye, as the news came just days after Gamu was booted off the X Factor by judge Cheryl Cole.
Hundreds of fans lined up outside the family’s home with hand-painted banners to show their support.
Gamu’s family was dealt another blow last week when the Government dropped a ban on the deportation of failed asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe.
