SHAMWARI

Starring Ken Gampu - a story of
The British South Africa Police

Shot on location, this story is set in Rhodesia in the war years of the 1970's. A story about a member of the British South Africa Police and his involvement with terrorism, his relationship as he flees custody with a white man. Full of adventure and very believable. Running time 82 minutes.

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The following was written by Alan Brent, former BSAP (#7055) and is very interesting:

I was the Police Liaison Officer on SHAMWARI. I helped co-ordinate all the police uniforms and equipment, and helped with the authenticity of all Police duties during the filming.

It was financed by "The Four Jacks and a Jill" The famous South African Music Group. Ken Gampo acted as a Police Inspector and Tamara Frankie ( a local model) were some of the main actors. Can't remember any of the others. Bonnie Van Rooyen was the Admin Manager / Accountant for the film. (No comments from the lurkers gallery....!!!!!)

It was filmed in and around Salisbury. The main Studio location was built in one of the big Exhibition halls at the Salisbury Show Grounds. An authentic Police station and cell block, a bar, and bedroom were constructed in the hall. The "shooting of scenes there lasted for three or four months.

Outside locations during the filming were at:
1. The rail siding near Gilby's Distillery on the Sinoia Road. We helped push railway coaches up and down the siding for several weeks.
2. An abandon farm house in the Mount Hampden Framing area which was "attacked" and burnt by "insurgents"
3. The Land Mine scene and "massacre were first filmed near the farm. They bought an old Matambanadzo Bus which was rigged to steer itself down a dirt road with dressed "window mannequins" as passengers and stuffed goats
and chickens on the roof, only to be blown up as it approached a bend in the road. The boosted blast sent the wrecked buss into a maize field. They had to pay the farmer for his damaged crops.
4. The "close up" of the bus massacre scene was filmed on the Parade Square at Tomlinson Depot (A.P.T.S) Ken Gampo and other actors were filmed being shot as they came out of the door and windows of the bus (They - the actors had blasting wires running up their trouser legs connected to small electrical detonators tied into "blood" filled
condoms), which when detonated, gave the impression of the body being struck by bullets

I was also the Police liaison officer on another film a few years later called "Tuxedo Warrior" also staring Ken Gampo as a Police Inspector. (The story revolved round stolen diamonds)There were several International actors in this film including Holly Palance (Jack Palance's daughter.) A real good looking girl)

Exciting times ......thanks for the reminder Ken Gampo passed away in Johannesburg a few years back

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