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The political parties said sanctions should be removed unconditionally.
The 27-member EU delegation of ministers met in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and resolved to continue holding onto the draconian travel and economic embargo that has caused suffering to Zimbabweans.
In a statement, the EU bloc also commended dialogue between Harare and the West and agreed to resume direct aid to Zimbabwe, which was suspended a decade ago.
“The EU agrees that a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum would represent an important milestone in the preparation of democratic elections that would justify a suspension of the majority of all EU targeted restrictive measures against individuals and entities,” said the EU.
The country is expected to hold a referendum soon after Copac completes the draft constitution.
However, EU diplomats insisted that travel sanctions against President Mugabe and other senior Government officials would remain.
“There is no question of lifting sanctions against Mugabe or anyone involved in continued abuses of human rights, incitement to violence . . . that is simply not up for discussion,” an EU official said.
Zanu-PF national spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo condemned the EU stance, saying the bloc had no justification for keeping the illegal punitive measures.
“Our position has been very clear. We want unconditional lifting of sanctions. We will not entertain the so-called promises. We will go ahead with our case at the EU court through the Attorney-General Johannes Tomana. We will campaign vigorously against these sanctions,” said Cde Gumbo.
“We know the EU wants to please their puppets here but their tricks are not going to work. They discussed this issue with our negotiators and they know the position of Zimbabweans that these sanctions are illegal. What they said today makes no difference. There is no reason why they should keep on those sanctions. It seems there is a hidden agenda and they should just come out in the open.”
MDC secretary-general Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said sanctions must be removed in totality with no strings attached.
“Our position as the Zimbabwean delegation has been very clear. As a team we have always asked the EU to lift the sanctions unconditionally. But whatever they decide is entirely up to them,” said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Although MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora could not be reached on his mobile for comment, the party leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who is on a three-day visit to Australia has also condemned sanctions and called on diplomats in that country to lift them.
Political analyst and academic Professor Jonathan Moyo recently accused the EU of dangling the carrot in a bid to influence the politics of the country, especially the outcome of the anticipated referendum and general elections.
Many Government officials are still under an EU asset freeze and travel ban that was decided in 2002 after Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform programme.
Since then the EU and its ally, the United States, have maintained a hardline stance, only to soften up in February when the bloc removed 51 people and 20 entities from the sanctions list.
However, an apparent breakthrough was made in May when a Zimbabwean delegation of ministers from the three political parties in the inclusive Government engaged the EU and concluded that Zimbabwe must write a letter setting out its case for consideration by the bloc before the end of this month.
Online Reporter