Section 44: Duty to respect fundamental human rights and freedoms
Constitution of Zimbabwe
The State and every person, including juristic persons, and every institution and agency of the government at every level must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights and freedoms set out in this Chapter.
This section establishes a universal obligation that extends beyond just government entities to include individuals, companies, and organizations. It creates a proactive duty not only to avoid violating rights (respect), but also to safeguard them from threats (protect), advance their realization (promote), and ensure their practical implementation (fulfil). This comprehensive approach reflects modern human rights principles that view rights as requiring both negative restraint and positive action from all societal actors.