#times360malawi Finally, the deadlock has been broken between the Zambian government and the family of late former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu on the former president's funeral. In negotiations facilitated by Malawi's former president Dr. Bakili Muluzi, the two sides agreed on Saturday that the government will fly late president Lungu's body from Johannesburg to Lusaka next week Wednesday, 18th June. Burial will take place on Monday 23rd June, 2025. The government had previously planned to fly his body back home on Wednesday 11th June, but failed to do so because of a dispute with Lungu's family and his political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), over mourning and funeral arrangements. The family's spokesperson also maintained that Lungu had left instructions that his successor Hakainde Hichilema "should not be anywhere near" his body. The two leaders were long-standing political rivals, with Hichilema defeating Lungu in the 2021 election after failing in five previous attempts. In a message, the Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema thanked Muluzi for his unwavering support and prayers during efforts to break the impasse which has been hanging for some days. #timesnews