State-led repression. When citizens evaluate the gravity of the risks to which they are exposed, and the issues they would like to articulate, the risks outweigh the benefits, given the impunity afforded to the police, army and other pro-ZANU-PF non-state perpetrators of political violence. This is a contributory factor in making people risk averse. 3.3 Learned helplessness Another theme emerging from the FGDs was that people were averse to risk because, despite their participation in political processes and events, the results were known beforehand: the state would always unleash its repressive machinery to quell demonstrations, protests and douse the citizen voice. In essence, citizens have tried all that they think they can do as individuals, and, as communities, to try and turn the situation around, but have come up against a violent foe and have repeatedly seen their efforts come to nothing. Wave after wave of protests, petitions and demonstrations have failed to extract responsiveness, accountability and good governance from the government. Instead, citizens have seen first-hand, or through neighbours, relatives and friends, how the government has used violence and intimidation to quell citizen actions. Lately, social media is also being used by the State to peddle the notion of State surveillance of citizens’ views and to create fear about the strength and reach of the repressive arms of the State beyond physical participation in protests and demonstrations. Citizens have “learned” to fear demanding their rights. Citizens have “learnt” that their efforts to claim their rights and entitlements lead to loss of innocent lives including children and the elderly who can be “bombed” with teargas while seated in their homes, away from protests and demonstrations going on in the streets. According to respondents, citizens have been expressing their discontentment for a long time and have not attained the desired results with “waves” of demonstrations and protests dying away after the State reacted by unleashing violence. The elections, for example, are generally seen as one of the best avenues for citizens to show their views on, support for or loss of confidence in how they are governed. However, despite enjoying massive support among the youth and the urban electorate in particular, the opposition has never secured enough control of the State and government to effect the changes yearned for by the citizenry. Consequently, from the discussions with the youth respondents, it is clear that a sense of resignation with the status-quo pervades the youth. Even if we demonstrate nothing will happen. Whatever you are demonstrating for won’t come to you. I am risk averse because I am playing a game that has already been won. Protests lead to nothing. It doesn’t change anything You win elections but you don’t win power I am tired of fighting a losing battle. I have been there before. No one will help me if I get arrested I haven’t seen any change from previous demos. Resultsdoes the demo give positive results. If nothing comes out of it people don’t bother taking risk When they are happening l critically think if it is worth the risk Respondents indicated disinterest in participating in elections, demonstrations, protests and other forms of citizen actions as they saw no gain out of it. There was widespread pessimism about changing the status-quo through citizen action. Some discussants likened protests, 6