South Africa’s governing party African National Congress (ANC), has called for an end to the politicisation of the origins of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Chairperson for the International Relations Sub-Committee in the ANC National Executive Council, Lindiwe Zulu, made the position of the party known on Friday.

Zulu said while the ANC supported the scientific investigations into the origins of COVID-19, they must not be politicised.

She expressed concern over the “politicisation” of the inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

“Research into the origins of the virus is important from a scientific and global health policy perspective and it should not be used as a smoke-screen for geopolitical contestation that has nothing to do with ending the pandemic or understanding how to prevent future pandemics,” said Zulu.

She said COVID-19 “has killed many people and resulted in vaccine nationalism” by high-income countries.

She, therefore, urged countries to rebuild solidarity “as this is the only way to effectively combat the spread and destruction of the virus.” (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)