Taibu made his first-class debut aged sixteen, and his debut for the national team in 2001, aged just eighteen. In 2003, he was appointed vice-captain to Heath Streak on the team's tour of England, and he was appointed national captain in April 2004 following the departure of several 'rebel' players, who resigned from the national team in a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket. He impressed many with his mature outlook and leading by example and was regarded as one of the few genuinely Test-standard players in a very weak side.

In November 2005, he held a press conference on behalf of 74 Zimbabwe players denouncing the management of Zimbabwe Cricket. This led to death threats against him and his family, as well as criticism of him in the Zimbabwean media. He also failed to agree a new contract with Zimbabwe Cricket. On 24 November, he ended his international career at the age of 22 and is expected to continue his professional career outside Zimbabwe. He played for the Cape Cobras in South Africa in the 2005/06 season. However, he has also said that he would be glad to play for Zimbabwe again if Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute resigned and "the right people" replaced them.