The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe national cricket team captain, Tatenda Taibu has been caught offside because of a social media post which supports American police action on George Floyd whose death has caused violent protests in the United States.
Taibu on Friday posted on Twitter that Floyd had been arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby market. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while he was handcuffed face down in the street.
“America is in a mess. Now Americans want the street to be named after Floyd. My my my.!!! What the policeman did was wrong. However, the story started with a fake bank note. Black or white, that is wrong too. There’s a difference between a hero and a victim,’’ posted Taibu.
Zimbabweans on Twitter reacted angrily to Taibu’s post, with some saying that the former Chevrons skipper had disgraced the country. Taibu’s post had as of yesterday received over 1 200 comments, mostly slamming the 37-year-old.
Lady Chevrons skipper, Mary-Anne Musonda disagreed with Taibu, with the all-rounder’s views being that Taibu’s post showed no concern for others’ feelings and was irresponsible.
“NO! And no. This is an insensitive and reckless tweet,’’ responded Musonda.
Bulawayo-based photographer, Mgcini Nyoni felt that Taibu could have instead led the debate on the proposal of a street after Floyd.
“There are questions around naming the street and you should have asked the questions and started a discussion instead of the insensitivity you did here,’’ said Nyoni.
A Twitter user @taff_churu slammed Taibu for displaying his ignorance by putting the same value on Floyd’s life as the $20 bill yet the matter was about the structure that is unfair against black people.
“So, are you equating his life to a $20 bill? You honestly can’t be this ignorant this is about the whole system being biased against the black people.”
Another Twitter user, @tinomabwe questioned if the $20 bill had been proven to be counterfeit and advised Taibu to stick to cricket analysis.
“Was it proved that it was fake? Did he deserve to be murdered? Try analysing cricket but with such a shallow mindset you won’t go anywhere.” @Mdawini_29
