Maximina was born HIV positive, and in 2004 her health deteriorated to a point where she could not even walk. In 2006, Maximina commenced taking Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) her health has since greatly improved. The disease, her family and her community have inspired her passion for working with adolescents and young women who are infected and affected by HIV, and encourages the adoption of interventions that eliminate stigma and discrimination. Through her desire to learn about HIV and find ways to help young women, she was invited to join the University of Zimbabwe – University of California San Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collaborative Research Programme as a Community Advisory Board (CAB) member. She is currently a CAB member with the International Maternal Paediatric Adolescents AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) group and the HIV Vaccines Trials Network (HVTN) CAB in Zimbabwe. In both CABs  she represent the interests of adolescents and young women by making sure that their voices are heard and their research priorities in HIV and TB are considered.

Maximina is also a qualified Professional Counselor at Africaid and national advocate. She has presented on national television shows, where she has had the opportunity to disclose her status. She is also a professional counselor, working on child protection issues such as neglect, rights violations, and stigma and discrimination of children and young people living with HIV.