The area was a popular suburb for working class Southern European immigrants in the post war era but today is home to mostly black Zimbabweans and the descendants of Malawian, Mozambiquean and Zambian immigrants.
[1] Willowvale is home to numerous manufacturing businesses, notably in food production, vehicles, textiles and electronics.
The floors are open to visitors with auctions and trading activity being the highlight of a visit.
[3] The sales were exposed by Chronicle editors Geoffrey Nyarota and Davison Maruziva in a series of investigative reports, and led to a national scandal and commission of inquiry.
A provincial governor and five ministers of the government of President Robert Mugabe resigned, one of whom, Maurice Nyagumbo, committed suicide.