Thousands of people gathered at the South African side of the Beitbridge border post to protest against President Robert Mugabe who blew $3 trillion at his birthday bash in the southern Zimbabwe town.

Political activists and human rights organizations were enraged at how the aging president could spend so much on a bash to celebrate personal birthday when millions are languishing in dire poverty across the country.

The group of Zimbabwean protesters based in South Africa reportedly sang and danced denouncing Mugabe's regime.

The protesters came from as far as Johannesburg in buses and trucks and positioned themselves a few meters from the customs office.

MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennet who is based in South Africa addressed the crowd.

On the other side of the border, Mugabe addressed Zanu PF supporters that had been ferried from across the country.

The aging leader said he was confident against all odds that he would win the elections come March 29th.

He also attempted to take the blame of economic woes off his face.

"Let's tell people the truth about the economic hardships they are facing. The truth about what government is able to do and what it is not able to. We are going to work hard to address the problem," he said.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is seeking another five-year term to extend his grip on the African nation, which is mired in an economic crisis marked by an inflation rate of more than 100,000 per cent and chronic food and fuel shortages.

The 84-year-old leader is facing a serious challenge from one-time ally and former finance minister Simba Makoni, who has vowed to reverse the country's economic slide if elected in the March 29th vote.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, is also a presidential candidate.

Mugabe turned 84 on Thursday.

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