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World’s ‘Poorest’ President Donates 90% Salary To Poor, Shuns Presidential Mansion
It’s a common grumble that politicians’ lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president – who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay.
Laundry is strung outside the house. The water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside.
This is the residence of the president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, whose lifestyle clearly differs sharply from that of most other world leaders.
President Mujica has shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife’s farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo.
The president and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers.
This austere lifestyle – and the fact that Mujica donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000 (£7,500), to charity – has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world.
“I may appear to be an eccentric old man … But this is a free choice.”
“I’ve lived like this most of my life,” he says, sitting on an old chair in his garden, using a cushion favoured by Manuela the dog.
“I can live well with what I have.”
His charitable donations – which benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs – mean his salary is roughly in line with the average Uruguayan income of $775 (£485) a month.
All the president’s wealth is a 1987 VW Beetle.
In 2010, his annual personal wealth declaration – mandatory for officials in Uruguay – was $1,800 (£1,100), the value of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.
This year, he added half of his wife’s assets – land, tractors and a house – reaching $215,000 (£135,000).
That’s still only about two-thirds of Vice-President Danilo Astori’s declared wealth, and a third of the figure declared by Mujica’s predecessor as president, Tabare Vasquez.
Elected in 2009, Mujica spent the 1960s and 1970s as part of the Uruguayan guerrilla Tupamaros, a leftist armed group inspired by the Cuban revolution.
He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail. Most of his detention was spent in harsh conditions and isolation, until he was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to democracy.
Those years in jail, Mujica says, helped shape his outlook on life.
“I’m called ‘the poorest president’, but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more,” he says.
“This is a matter of freedom. If you don’t have many possessions then you don’t need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself,” he says.
“I may appear to be an eccentric old man. But this is a free choice.”
The Uruguayan leader made a similar point when he addressed the Rio+20 summit in June this year: “We’ve been talking all afternoon about sustainable development. To get the masses out of poverty.
“But what are we thinking? Do we want the model of development and consumption of the rich countries? I ask you now: what would happen to this planet if Indians would have the same proportion of cars per household than Germans? How much oxygen would we have left?
“Does this planet have enough resources so seven or eight billion can have the same level of consumption and waste that today is seen in rich societies? It is this level of hyper-consumption that is harming our planet.
Posted by
METAL
November 16, 2012 at 9:04 am
ema guys aba!
NDI MUPUNDO
November 16, 2012 at 9:04 am
My dear believe me you are blessed…though i did not read the the full story..ba tumfweko editing atshani
Mujica
November 16, 2012 at 9:17 am
Wise old man…
Minoc
November 16, 2012 at 9:37 am
Wisest president his presidential car is a wv beetle. Tumfweko is a bit late on the story coz it been around for sometime. Just google his name en u will find a picture of his lighting from his presidential wv beetle.
Mushkarano!!
November 16, 2012 at 9:48 am
Very encouraging indeed esp @ “Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more,” But ba tumfweko mwalasa nomba u could have provided some pics aswell..Id!ots..
Aluta
November 16, 2012 at 9:53 am
Uyu president ni mbama not ba nevers bena bafwaya kupakama
Barotse diaspora
November 16, 2012 at 9:55 am
May some of the african president emulate that. Zambia in particular can our leader copy .and envy that message.only in barotse wil this happen when our king he’s separated from the rest.
jj
November 16, 2012 at 10:28 am
Pipo pls learn to be patient n read.why do u want everything to be edited.i wonder if u can even sit n read a novel.this president has been called to lead.this is true calling.
mulamu
November 16, 2012 at 10:53 am
Pa zed ati K1.4 billion mansion taulatekapo na 18 months and more billions for the first lady’s office.Why is Zambia so cursed with this kind of leadership?God help mother Zambia.
Lubansa
November 16, 2012 at 10:56 am
ths man is more thn a gud leader.I hop alot of leadrz wud learn frm ths man.Not ukulalyafye indalama.
Behavioural Analyst
November 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
98.89% of the current Presidents,Prime Ministers,Kings and Emperors are either thieves and greed creatures
princec
November 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
hes blesd indeed,not mu Zambia.keep it up grand pa.yo country wil be blesd
nibbles
November 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
The bible says that”if you help the peopple in need, the lord will remember you on your sick bed” and for sure he will be remembered
Sido
November 16, 2012 at 11:35 am
Good guy. Lets pray to have one in zambia
MUNYELO PWETE!
November 16, 2012 at 11:59 am
Nangu kuba down to earth bushe nifi? Awe mwe! I strongly suspect this chap is a Mike Poper, I mean a mentl patient
DIP STICK
November 16, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Achita over. A 1987 VW when there are better and cheaper cars on Internet.
He isn’t serious. Meanwhile,Sata for sometime stayed at his Lagos road house till he realized he has to host dignitaries of which his house was not appropriate. Security issues come into play also due to people who are so frustrated to have broken off from the pact.
This Uruguayan presido should have put himself in a position he can have a bigger impact on the poor.
I'm Disappointed with Tumfweko
November 16, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Tumfweko , why exposing e-mail addresses and names of bloggers.
Mushkarano!!
November 16, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Are u sure they are doing that…please let me know..i talk to them nicely
KA GELO
November 16, 2012 at 3:00 pm
This is not the way a head of state should leave. Moreover, he is an old man who does not have dependants like here in Zed. Among you bloggers supporting or praising him, who can live like that. You are all pretending; that is why you are still in town. Kaunda encouraged people to go back to the ‘land’, you called him names and opted to live in town. Bufi bwenu bosses.
KAPASO
November 16, 2012 at 3:02 pm
In this country we only have the likes of HH who steal from privatisation and boast that they are rich. Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
frank c
November 16, 2012 at 3:26 pm
yes honorab you so good God bless you
CONCERNED CHRISTIAN
November 16, 2012 at 3:56 pm
MAY GOD RICHLY BLES U MR.PRESIDENT.AM HUMBLED-I NEVA THOT WE HAD SUCH LEADERS IN D WORLD
CONCERNED CHRISTIAN
November 16, 2012 at 3:56 pm
GOD BLES U MR.PRESIDENT
Abakonzi
November 16, 2012 at 3:58 pm
When you are president some things are just necessary like security personel,reliable transport and presentable residence for this high profile meetings.This guy is not humble but mad,honestly how a state president be guarded by a crippled dog and 2 police officers.And you call this being humble?
mature
November 16, 2012 at 4:05 pm
are there no psychiatrists in this country who can help this man. i think there is something terribly wrong with him.
Southern watchman
November 16, 2012 at 6:29 pm
He is in this world but he is not of this world.Such people are few in this world. The love of money is the beginning of all evil.He has overcome and escaped the corruption of this present world.
fools are fools
November 16, 2012 at 4:54 pm
am thrilled by this richest and wise leader. He is a Man after God’s heart. I have never seen nor heard such. i wish african presidents can do that and many poor people will be liberated. satana ca never do that and they are obesy with taxpayers money…shame
Kwa kanyama
November 16, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Ba pwete ninshi ndimwe ba silikali?
Jiji Mulundika Skyrolova
November 16, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Thats a true leader!
BryD
November 16, 2012 at 7:54 pm
True leadership is seen and known by the fruits, not these leaders We have who always just think of fatening their pockets. This old wise man is called to lead and he is not the poorest president but the richest because he invests in God’s kingdom.
tycoon
November 16, 2012 at 9:19 pm
if this presido came to zed,he would be advised to put more money in his pocket first!
juice manure
November 16, 2012 at 9:38 pm
This pumbafu is hiding something! He could be a pothead or he drinks kachasu! He is embracing poverty… How is he going to inspire the poor electorates if he continues to behave like a scum bag! He is cheating himself. He is sick in the head! Gaddafi lived in tents, but when the citizens decided…they slaughtered him!
Mosquito
November 16, 2012 at 9:47 pm
I really admire this man, he is one out of 100. Most leaders go there to steal but little do they know that they will die and other pipo will use their wealth (eg kafupi chabala, mobutu, gaddafi, etc). God will raise this man to infinity heights, for taking care of the poor and the less priveleged.
Mainde Keembe
November 16, 2012 at 10:06 pm
This ***** needs 2 hv his head xamined. Surely can a normal person lead such boring life as a leader. Mushindo wakwe shld take a leaf frm the late FTJ. How many suits nd shoes. Mwandi dnt try balya bali niba lazo. May His Poor Soul Rest In Peace.
ukwa sa jailika
November 16, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Someone I know is already constructing a retirement house-illegally. He even increased his salary by more than 100%
Eye Blows
November 16, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Those Are Qualities Of A Real Leader.
Isu-su Emperor
November 16, 2012 at 11:21 pm
cool and i rest my case right here..!
KD $
November 17, 2012 at 10:06 am
Keep it up mr president,God will bless you with more.
Shameless
November 17, 2012 at 5:55 pm
He doesn’t know how to get his people out of poverty and he thinks encouraging poverty is the solution. He should remember that he’s a leader and his poor citizens need to be led out of poverty and not vice-versa.
God encourages helping the poor but doesn’t encourage being poor.
What inspiration would such a father give to his own children? Positive or negative?
frankchipila
November 17, 2012 at 7:44 pm
you are very good 2 be pst God bless u
musa
November 19, 2012 at 1:45 pm
***** president are u going to live forever for the coming generations, teach them how to fish, the next president might be tuuuuuuuuuuuuuumean, good initiative for now, but future, when u die, they will perish, u get get enough education for your self, just look after them, supose????? who will fend for them, get this rubbish rotten thinking out of your head. no wonder u are surrounded by wonder, go to nearby continet and learn something