We reported here on Nov 18 that Botswana President Ian Khama’s continued bachelor status was increasingly worrying his countrymen and members of his own political party-Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). With pressure from all corners, the President has put his no-compromise requirements on the table.
Botswana is one of the few African nations on the planet without a First Lady — a fact which President Ian Khama says he is hoping to change soon. But now, the nation’s most eligible bachelor finds himself in hot water after specifying that his future wife must not be overweight, ABC is reporting..
At a political party meeting last month, the never-married Khama told ministers that his top requirement for his future wife is that she needs to be tall, slim and beautiful. To emphasize that point, he then pointed to the Assistant Minister of Local Government Botlhogile Tshreletso and said, “I don’t want one like this one. She may fail to pass through the door, breaking furniture with her heavy weight and even break the vehicle’s shock absorbers.”Though government officials, including the minister who Khama had singled out, are said to have chuckled at the jibe, not everyone in a country known for its short, heavy-set women is laughing. Khama’s critics have called him to retract what they deem is a “sexist” proclamation. “Some were saying it was a joke. Some were saying it wasn’t a joke. He meant what he said,” a reporter for the Botswana Gazette is quoted by ABC as saying. “He should withdraw his statement because it’s negative against women.”
The pressure on Khama to get hitched has been mounting for some time. Elected in 2009, the president also serves as the chief of the Bamangwato people, Botswana’s largest ethnic group. This tribal responsibility requires marriage — just one custom among many that Khama has thus far defied. According to the BBC, although picked as a chief in 1979, Mr Khama has never assumed the responsibilities of traditional leadership in his village.
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The President’s comments have been described as sexist and undiplomatic.
I really don’t understand why people are taking Mr. President’s comment so personal. Matter of fact, we all have our preferences when it comes to what we want for our partners. So what’s wrong with the president making his preference known.
I say you go Mr. President, a slim tall and beautiful woman is what we want for our mother. Most of all she will suit you and your physique. I would like to compliment you our father, you have a better taste in women. For a long time African culture has looked down on slim women as an unnafrican figure. Nobody has denounced that barbaric thinking, so when the African First Man takes a stand and shift from that concept people start wobbling that it’s incosideration for Women Rights. Hell it’s Women Rights, where were these rights when African culture declared slim women unafrican, and were given names.
WE OUGHT TO THANK mR. pRESIDENT FOR CHALLENGING ALL WOMEN TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.
In a world with people dying of obesity enhanced illnesses, the President has just made women aware that an extra fat is not a sign of good health or attraction as it is perceived. Fat deposits around the butt area, the so called (di hips) are ignorantly and shamefully considered a woman’s pride in our culture and women are forced by this societal stupid perspectives to put their health at risk. Betsho, I am fat but not proud. So the president has just given me the challenge. Thanks Mr. President.
As for the match making ya ma 14 with the pres. ah ah…. No…NO. Let the children play. Being the first lady is not a joke, it’s not as luxurious as we people out here think. It’s already hard enough to be the Pastor’s wife, the lime light is not that glamorous.
I wish the pres. the best of luck in his quest.
NO MATTER HOW THE TRUTH HURTS, IT MUST BE APPRECIATED.
My beef is why has Mr. Khama not found it necessary to marry all this while? Does he have a psychological problem of some sort? Why he should allow this to prevent him from assuming full traditional leadership since 1979 proves that the issue is more critical than it appears.
But it must be admitted that the man has a streak in his character that always commends him for high positions. If there is nothing really wrong with him then he should get a spouse because “it is not good for a man to live alone.”
Concerning the statement he made about his future lady, it is normal. All men have particular ladies they want to live with. No man wants to live with just any type of woman. Marriage is supposed to be a long-lasting relationship and so the choice of a spouse must be based on certain criteria. Why are people reading negative meanings into what Mr. Khama said? He is just behaving like a typical bachelor who is looking for a lady to marry. Sometimes circumstances might change the criteria after marriage. I know of man who married a lady with a similar outlook preferred by Mr. Khama but after a few years she became fat. The man then began to complain but it was too late. That is the problem with going into marriage with all kinds of fantasies. Good luck, Mr. President!