Makwinja attended the University of Essex in England,graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology and social policy in 1986.[1][non-primary source needed] After graduating,she began working in the field of human resources management in Botswana. In 1986,she became a human resources employee at Debswana Mining Company,eventually becoming the company's manager for industrial communications and manpower development. After brief tenures with several companies in the 2000s,including a position as head of human resources at a hospital,Makwinja became acting CEO of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre in 2012. In 2014,she began working at a human resources consulting firm called Leadex Consulting.[2][3]
A member of the Botswana Democratic Party,Makwinja ran for the National Assembly of Botswana in the 2014 election,running in the Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency. However,she was defeated in the party primary. She ran for parliament again in the 2019 election,running in the Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency. Though the initial vote-tally in the primary showed her losing to incumbent Vincent Seretse by just 45 votes,Makwinja called for a recount,claiming there were "irregularities" with the election. She was announced the winner of the primary following the recount.[4][5] Makwinja won the general election,defeating three other candidates with 11,600 votes;her nearest opponent,the Umbrella for Democratic Change candidate,received 5,320 votes.[6] She was one of only three female MPs elected in the 2019 election.[7]
While in parliament,Makwinja has been an advocate for Asian investment into Botswana,supporting the establishment of Chinese-run farms and care facilities in her district,[13][14] and backing Japanese partnership in the Botswana Network on Ethics,Law and HIV/AIDS program.[15] She is also a prominent supporter of efforts to counter violence against women in Botswana,arguing that in addition to the moral implications,gender-based violence was leading to a loss in productivity. In 2022,she was a speaker at a conference organized by the United Nations Population Fund and the Southern African Development Community on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights.[16]
Makwinja is one of Botswana's delegates to the Inter-Parliamentary Union,serving on the Committee on Middle East Questions.[17]
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