Mugabe will have me shot if I'm sent back claims X Factor reject Gamu

The 18-year-old singer, who faces deportation after her mother wrongly claimed state benefits, was not among the four wildcards picked to join the final 12 by the show’s judges.

Speaking from a secret location in Scotland, the student told the News of the World her relatives in Zimbabwe had already been approached by men she feared to work for the country’s president Robert Mugabe.

Nhengu said: “I’ve been in the public eye now and people there know I’ve fled Mugabe’s regime. They will punish us if we go back. They’re going to know where we are.

“There’s a firing squad waiting for us there and they’re putting me in front of it.”

The singer added that she had not been contacted by Simon Cowell or Cheryl Cole although she had heard Cowell’s lawyers were “trying to help”.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he felt sorry for Gamu but that she should be dealt with like anybody else.

He told BBC1’s The Politics Show: “I feel very sorry for Gamu but I think you do have to have the proper rules enforced, you can’t make an exception for someone because she was on the X Factor, so I think the authorities have to make their own decisions in the normal way.”

Meanwhile, last night Nicolo Festa became the first act to be booted off the show as the series started with a double eviction.

The Italian, who is studying in London, polled the lowest number of viewer votes so was automatically kicked out of the competition.

His mentor, Dannii Minogue, said she thought he had performed the cover of Lady Gaga’s Just Dance fantastically but it was hard to stand out among 16 acts.

Katie Waissel and boy band FYD polled the next lowest totals of votes and faced a sing-off with their fate decided by the judging panel.

FYD, which stands for For Your Direction, were the next act going home after only their mentor Simon Cowell opted to keep them.

The fivesome tried to save themselves with a performance of Rihanna’s Don’t Stop The Music but their fate was sealed when Louis Walsh opted to send them home.