dress code

In general, Zambian dress code is pretty conservative but you can be more relaxed in the evenings.

In a hospital you will come across people grieving etc, I think wearing suitable clothes would also be important for your own comfort.

At formal workplace, trousers are ok but I think a bit loose ones are preferable or having a long/loose shirt on. Skirts below the knee. No tank tops or similar.

The question is which part of Zambia? Rural or town. If its town, although some Zambian women are conservative wearing the traditional dress, in the 3 years i worked with them, I have never heard an issue about dressing. Ladies are very trendy wearing the latest fashions as they please.
I do agree that half tops and short skirts are not common but sometimes at banks, hotels ladies wear suits with short skirts.

I wouldn't worry too much about dressing. Zambians are very accommodating and friendly...

With conservative I don't mean the "traditional dress", the traditional dresses you see on Zambian women are actually more Western African.

OP asked a really valid question, dresscode is not about others being friendly, it is about tacit cultural norms. Tourist places such as hotels are not similar to hospitals, which usually accommodate people from all over the country.

I cannot remember seeing any short skirts in the Ministry where I worked. Or in the hospitals I visited. Perhaps they are there. But as said earlier, during weekends/evenings you can wear practically anything. So pack your usual stuff, for work you can also buy a lot of good quality second hand clothes in Zambia, it is called Salaula.

thanks for the messages, yes i just don't want to be wearing the wrong thing even if noone is actively unpleasant to me because of it. It is a rural hospital in the north of the country, does this make much difference in terms of what will be worn?