Harare/Johannesburg - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told Western governments to 'go and hang' over their condemnation of his assault on the political opposition in Harare.

'When they criticise the government when it tries to prevent the people getting food we take the position that they can go and hang,' Mugabe said after talks with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

Mugabe blamed the Movement for Democratic Change of Morgan Tsvangirai for the shortages and hunger in the country.

'Here are groups of people who went out of their way to try and help the people. We hear no criticism to this campaign from Western governments,' he added.

Eugune Terreblanch has, in the meantime, offered to go and help Mugabe keep down the people