Botswana president wants a 'tall and slim' wife

London, Nov 20 (ANI): Botswana's president has turned to his aides to help him find a 'tall and slim' wife in a country of 'traditionally built' ladies.

Ian Khama, 57, is still a bachelor, a matter of concern in Botswana, a country that views its leader as a tribal chief.

Khama has turned the tables on his followers, explaining he was too busy with affairs of state to find a companion.

"For your information, I want a woman who is tall, slim and good looking," the Telegraph quoted him as saying in a party meeting on the issue.

He then turned to the corpulent Botlhogile Tshireletso, a female minister, 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 vehicles' shock absorbers."

The gibe would have been met with consternation by McCall Smith's heroine Mma Ramotswe, who was at pains to explain that her size was down to her adherence to traditional values in Africa - where corpulence is seen as a sign of wealth and happiness.

"You are guilty of ridiculing the President.

"The best that you should do is to go all out and look for the woman that you prefer for me as I hardly have time to hunt for a woman who will become my wife," Khama added. (ANI)